Gay, Bullied Student Facing Expulsion After Mother Sent Him to School with Stun Gun

Posted by Kevin Farrell on May 7, 2012 in Oh Hell No! | 15 comments

Darnell “Dynasty” Young, 17, was facing daily harassment from bullies at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis who would taunt him, throw rocks and bottles at him, spread rumors and follow him home, The Indianapolis Star reports.

After reporting the bullying to the school more than 10 times, his mother, Chelisa Grimes, said she gave Young a stun gun for protection, because school authorities weren’t doing enough, MSNBC reports.

“I do not promote violence — not at all — but what is a parent to do when she has done everything that she felt she was supposed to do … at the school?” Grimes told CNN‘s Don Lemon on Sunday. “I did feel like there was nothing else left for me to do, but protect my child.”

Now Darnell is facing expulsion for bringing a weapon to school.

For what it’s worth, his mother says she would give him the stun gun all over again if she were given do-over. And it’s not hard to see why a mother would feel that way. Darnell fired the taser off just one time after carrying it for several weeks because he was being surrounded by a group of boys who had been throwing bottles and rocks at him, a group his school was unwilling to protect him from.

There’s really no way to tell in retrospect, but that stun gun may have saved Darnell’s life. Or maybe a stint in the hospital. Or maybe even just another crappy day full of bullying.

What do YOU think? Should Darnell be expelled for bringing a weapon to school? Why were the bullies never disciplined in the first place? Should his mother have given him the taser?

http://www.facebook.com/timxoc Timothy Cox

Dynasty is a sweetheart and would only have used the stun gun if he absolutely had to. The principal wouldn’t do anything whatsoever to help him, and I think his mother had every right to do what she felt necessary to protect her child. Bullying in schools lead 14 American kids to kill themselves each day. School officials, in most cases, do nothing. I think Dynasty shouldn’t be expelled.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000361933961 Mike Trujillo

Are the brothers, twins? and for that matter, both gay? If so they’ve truly been given a gift, along with their mother they will forever have each other to lean on and always have a friend and a confidant. (…i wish i had a brother…D-X)

But to your question, ummmmmmm gah. this is a hard one. He shouldn’t have had the stun gun, but he shouldn’t have ever needed it. He most certainly shouldn’t be expelled, it is the schools fault for not being able to protect it’s students.
http://confessionsofaqueerboy.blogspot.com/ Tre’

My heart goes out to this kid. I was teased as a child, but never on this level. Any level of bullying can leave scars that take a lifetime to heal. It is sad that in 2012 kids can’t be who they are born to be. In a perfect world bullying would be a thing of the past.We all need to do our part to make that perfect world a reality. It starts with the adults, it is our duty to make sure that children can go to school and learn not only from school books, but also how to be a respectable human being.
http://profile.yahoo.com/HRLAW3I2WCPOQYE4L7EWTFA3WI martha

Honestly, he absolutely should be expelled. While I recognize the fact that the school was in the wrong in not acting to stop the bullying, that certainly doesn’t make him exempt to the rules. The proper course of action would be to go to the school board, and if that didn’t work, to take legal action through the ACLU or a private attorney.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Benjamin-Spiderm/100000682860873 Benjamin Spiderm

Yes because legal action is swift, just as the school was swift to act to prevent bullying. We would still have this same discussion if he threw rocks back at his attackers as that to is most likely a violation of the rules. There is a point and time to defend one’s self . In the mean time be thankful that it did not lead to lethal action.

http://www.facebook.com/deinef83 Devin Ferris

shouldn’t the students throwing rocks in the first place be charged with using weapons?!
http://www.facebook.com/treyallen14 Trey Hill

No Dynasty Should Not Be Expelled. If The Bullying Has Been Directed Towards Him And The Adults Are Not Taking Action To It And Stop What Is Happening Then You Have No Choice But To Be Prepared For The Unexpected And Have A Taser or A Stun Gun With You To Protect Yourself. If The Principal Isn’t Doing Anything, If The Discipline Dean Isn’t Doing Anything, Dr. White or The IPS Board Of Directors Then You Have A Right To Say “If You Won’t Stop The Bullying Then I Will Come To School Everyday With Something To Protect Myself From Bullies.” So No Dynasty Should Not Face Expulsion He Doesn’t Deserve It.
Anonymous

I am in agreement with his mom. During school hours, teachers and faculty are supposed to take care of the students. Thats what parents trust them to do. If the turn a blind eye do bullying, what else is a parent to do? Protect her child. My mom taught me that if I ever get bullied to fight back. Her exact words were “I don’t care how much trouble you get in for it. If they come at you, you pick up a rock, a stick, a chain, whatever and you beat them before they can get you. Otherwise I am going to jail for beating down the kid that beat my kid.”
http://www.facebook.com/people/Brian-Goulet/25704485 Brian Goulet

no, absolutely not. he shouldn’t have had the weapon, true, but he shouldn’t have NEEDED it in the first place. he wouldn’t have had it if the school staff were doing their jobs. if they do end up expelling him, his family needs to sue the school to kingdom come for not expelling the other students first. then they need to press charges against the families of those bullies for assault with a deadly weapon.
http://twitter.com/dextrocardiac Jaidon H

I’ll be completely honest, if I were in the mother’s situation, I’d have done the same thing and never regretted it. I’m not gonna see my kid being put in the hospital or worse because the school turned a blind eye to this level of bullying. I’d protect him however I had to. If that gets him expelled, fine. I’d also be raising hell with whoever I could about the school not doing what they should have done.
http://www.facebook.com/indy.wulfe Indy Wulfe

I was bullied all through school because I was taught not to fight by my grandmother, who raised me. Then one time, after my grandma died my mom said “It’s never ok to start a fight….ending it is another story.” A few weeks later, I was in a situation where there were 4 of them and one of me….I ended up hitting the the main one starting things and broke his nose…found out much later that the way I hit him could have killed him. But regardless, it stopped the bullying from happening. I would have rather had a stungun to take care of it as I abhor violence of all types….but once the bullies learn that you are simply NOT going to take it anymore, then it usually stops, though sadly they usually just pick another victim. Do I think he should have had it with him, no….because he SHOULDN’T HAVE HAD TO. The school officials, who’s job it is to take care of such things ignored the problem…the way I see it, it should be their JOBS on the line, not his school career. And something no one has brought up…he says int he video that he was told it was HIS fault???? Really?? That’s like telling a rape victim that it was their fault for wearing “provocative clothes”.
George Robinson IV

I’m unclear on how gay-bashing is a crime but bullying goes unpunished???? he had every right to defend himself after making the necessary notification to the school. He should not have to suffer because they didn’t get involved as the administrator’s. if anything i would say the school is at fault for negligent care.
Anonymous

School policies must change. They can’t take away our right to self defense. Expell the bullies why the heck should they expell a kid who is just pushing back
http://www.facebook.com/people/Emily-Phillips/848844856 Emily Phillips

Oh my God, that NAME. Darnell “Dynasty”. I see a LOGO star.
http://www.facebook.com/ilia.bauer Ilia Bauer

A stun gun is not a weapon, it is a self defense device, and except in very rare occasions, is not lethal. He used it in a very appropriate situation and got away rather than stayed around to cause trouble. He handled it like a mature young man who only wanted to be safe, not like a punk kid who suddenly gets his hands on a tool for revenge. Congrats Darnell! I’m rooting for you! Don’t ever let them tell you that you were in the wrong!
Hmm… Is there any way to track this young man down and shake his hand?

Tags

Gay, Bullied Student Facing Expulsion After Mother Sent Him to School with Stun Gun

Pages

Tags

Gay, Bullied Student Facing Expulsion After Mother Sent Him to School with Stun Gun

Yo Categories

Pages