A 14-year-old boy is “struggling,” his parents say, after he was violently attacked by another student in his school cafeteria. The assault left him with dozens of staples in his head and required parts of his skull to be removed.
Lukas Hardeman was attacked on Aug. 21 at his middle school in Kilgore, Texas, after making a joke, his parents told KLTV and shared on a GoFundMe page set up to help with his recovery.
According to his parents, the other student “picked him up and body slammed him,” causing Lukas’ head to hit a stool. The impact led to multiple brain bleeds and swelling.
Lukas’ father, Michael Hardeman, told KLTV that the injuries were serious enough to require part of his skull to be removed and left him with over 60 staples in his head.
“He’s embarrassed. He is hurt. He is struggling,” Michael said after a school board meeting held following the attack. “But I hope when he sees things like this that he has a lot of family behind him. I hope that he can get to a point where he is confident.”
Lukas is a creative, loving teenager who enjoys drawing, gaming, and spending time with his siblings and family, his family said in the fundraiser, which has raised more than $35,000.
It’s not yet clear if any action has been taken against the student accused in the attack.
On Aug. 26, Kilgore ISD posted a statement on their Facebook page, reaffirming their commitment to student safety and security.
“The event from last week has left us all shaken. It was both unexpected and deeply troubling, and our thoughts and prayers remain with our student who was injured,” part of the statement read.