A substitute teacher allegedly punched a student after being hit with a racial slur, prosecutors claim.
The incident occurred at a high school in East Las Vegas on April 25, and Re’Krwon Smith, 27, faces charges of assault and battery on a student at the school.
The altercation was also caught on camera by another Valley High School student, who was not involved in the attack.
Handcuffed after the hallway fight, Smith was released the following Friday in anticipation of a court date set for May 28, where he will also plead guilty to charges of interfering with a student’s attendance at school and being a threat to a student.
The student reportedly lost consciousness briefly after being punched and was reportedly taken to hospital for treatment. However, his identity and his injuries were not immediately revealed.
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A substitute teacher allegedly punched a student after being hit with a racial slur in April, prosecutors claim. Video of the alleged attack, seen below, has since gone viral.
The incident occurred at a high school in East Las Vegas on April 25 and Re’Krwon Smith, 27, faces charges as a result.
“Do something,” the student responds, before allegedly hitting the substitute with the racial slur.
This led Smith to “charge” and punch the student, Clark County School District police wrote, as video showed the singular blow that left the boy crumpled to the ground.
In an interview with police, Smith confirmed that he had hit the student after the juvenile called him a racial slur, before being locked up overnight and posting bail.
A Clark County judge said he released Smith because he had no criminal record and was not determined to be a flight risk, ordered him to avoid further arrests and citations and not return to Valley High School.
He is also not to have contact with the student victim whose age was not specified and who was seen throwing punches at Smith before being knocked to the ground.
Smith, a substitute since November 2023, was on assignment when the fight broke out.
Police confirmed that he will be removed from the district’s substitute teaching pool regardless of the outcome of the upcoming case, making him no longer eligible to teach again.
The April 25 altercation was caught on camera by another Valley High School student, one who was not involved in the attack.
It shows the rookie substitute exchanging blows with the unnamed student in the school hallways, while a crowd of children surrounds them.
Handcuffed immediately afterward, Smith was granted bail by a Clark County judge because he had no criminal record and was not determined to be a flight risk. He has a court date later this month.
Smith, a substitute since November 2023, was on assignment when the fight broke out. He is seen here standing over the boy after knocking him down.
Troopers confirmed that Smith, seen here in his April 25 mugshot, will be removed from the district’s substitute teaching pool regardless of the outcome of the case, and will no longer be eligible to teach again.
“I see a teacher fighting with a student and I say ‘wow,'” Valley High School junior Andrew Acevez told KTNV about the physical nature of the fight.
“Then the teacher stands next to him, slaps him and says things to him.
“I thought, ‘wow, that’s crazy.'”
Fernando Osario told the ABC affiliate that he has a close relationship with the student in the video and said he was in the hospital last week with a suspected concussion.
‘He doesn’t remember what happened. He has a concussion and scratches all over his face.
After the incident, Valley Middle School Principal Kimberly Perry-Carter sent a note to parents, telling them they were aware of the altercation and awaiting the outcome of the Clark County Police investigation.
The Clark County School District sent KTNV the following statement, saying additional information will be provided as the already concluded investigation progresses.
“The CCSD does not tolerate violence of any kind,” the statement said.
Smith appeared in court Friday after his arrest, before posting his $9,000 bond.
After the incident, Valley High School staff sent a note to parents, telling them they were aware of the altercation and awaiting the outcome of the Clark County Police investigation. Smith’s first hearing late last month can be seen here. did not plead guilty
Clark County School District police confirmed that the student hit the sub with a racial slur before the attack.
“Violence in any form is unacceptable and goes against the fundamental principles of education and respect,” the district said in a statement when firing Smith after less than half a year of replacing him.
‘Any altercation between a teacher and a student is thoroughly investigated and appropriate disciplinary action is taken’
“I see a teacher fighting with a student and I say ‘wow,'” Valley High School junior Andrew Acevez recalled to KTNV of the physical nature of the fight. “Then the teacher stands next to him, slaps him and says things to him. I’m like, “wow, that’s crazy.”
Fernando Osario told the ABC affiliate that he has a close relationship with the student in the video and said he was in the hospital last week with a suspected concussion.
The student’s identity is being withheld due to the nature of the juvenile justice system and the severity of his injuries is unknown.
‘Violence in any form is unacceptable and goes against the fundamental principles of education and respect.
“Any altercation between a teacher and a student is thoroughly investigated and appropriate disciplinary action is taken.”
Clark County School District police confirmed that the student hit the sub with a racial slur before the attack.
The student’s identity is being withheld due to the nature of the juvenile justice system and the severity of his injuries is unknown.
Meanwhile, Smith faces four charges in total, including assault, interfering with a student’s attendance at school, assault on a student, and threatening a student.
His next court hearing was set for May 28.
