A teenager from Long Island, who required 17 stitches after an alleged attack by another girl’s mother wielding a metal “Stanley” water mug, is now feeling too traumatized to return to school.
“I’m always shaking,” shared Madison Evans, a 14-year-old attending Brentwood High School. “Whenever I see those cups, it brings everything back.”
Madison described how her traumatic experience started when she left summer school last week and was approached by two girls she didn’t know.
It turns out the girls had issues with Madison’s cousin, and Madison ended up being targeted, she explained. After the girls began bullying her outside of school, Madison spoke up.
In a video obtained, you can see Madison interacting with security, trying to defend herself while Toni Monroe, a 35-year-old mother, shouted from nearby.
At one point, Monroe could be heard demanding her daughter to hand over the Stanley mug. The situation escalated, with Monroe and her daughter attacking Madison, hitting her multiple times with the cup. Witnesses later claimed Monroe attempted to flee before security apprehended her.
Madison recounted the chaos of the fight and the moment she felt blood running down her face. “I thought I was going to die,” she recalled.
Police arrested Monroe, who reportedly has no prior criminal record, in the parking lot.
Initially, Madison didn’t realize it was the girl’s mother involved in the altercation. “I was a bit shocked,” she said, noticing Monroe had tattoos as she tried to fend off the blows.
Later, Monroe’s daughter defended her mother on social media, suggesting that Monroe was trying to break up the fight rather than attack Madison. However, Monroe’s guardian dismissed that claim, pointing out the clear evidence of Madison’s injuries.
Monroe, who claimed her presence at the school was to address her daughter’s bullying issue, was charged with assault and released without bail. She has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor and is prohibited from contacting Madison.
In court, Monroe’s defense argued that her daughter was the real victim, but Madison’s side insisted that the daughter has a history of causing trouble with classmates.
Madison’s family firmly stated that there is no justification for Monroe’s behavior. “As a mom, you should be protecting kids, not adding to the situation,” her cousin Tyrene Smith said.
The principal of Brentwood High, Wanda Ortiz Rivera, condemned the incident, emphasizing that student safety is a top priority and that such behavior is unacceptable in schools.
However, for Madison, the psychological scars linger. The thought of returning to Brentwood High frightens her, and she no longer feels safe navigating the hallways. She hasn’t gone back to class since the incident and even mentioned that seeing a Stanley mug now makes her feel nauseous.
