A 14-year-old Texas boy is fighting to recover after a brutal school cafeteria attack left him with multiple brain injuries, dozens of staples in his head, and part of his skull removed, his devastated family says.
Lukas Hardeman was injured on August 21 at his middle school in Kilgore, Texas, after making a joke that allegedly led to a violent confrontation. According to his parents, another student picked Lukas up and body-slammed him, causing his head to smash against a stool. The impact resulted in severe brain bleeds and swelling.
Lukas’ father, Michael Hardeman, told KLTV that his son had to undergo emergency surgery, which included removing parts of his skull to relieve pressure. Lukas now has more than 60 staples holding his head together.
“He’s embarrassed. He is hurt. He is struggling,” Michael said after a school board meeting addressing the incident. “But I hope when he sees things like this, he knows he has a lot of family behind him. I hope he can get to a point where he feels confident again.”
A GoFundMe set up to support Lukas’ recovery has already raised more than $35,000. His family describes him as a “creative, loving teenager who enjoys drawing, gaming, and spending time with his siblings.”
It remains unclear whether the student accused of attacking Lukas will face disciplinary action.
In a statement posted on Facebook on August 26, Kilgore ISD said the incident has “left us all shaken” and reiterated its “commitment” to student safety. “The event from last week was both unexpected and deeply troubling, and our thoughts and prayers remain with our student who was injured,” the district said.
The chances are, it is a so-called minority who did it so he probably won’t face any charges. They are allowed to say anything they want, but nobody can say anything against them. It’s, unfortunately just the world that we’re living in.
There is no excuse for the one who did this .He should be imprisoned for a long time.aHe is a menace to society