OXON HILL, Md. — A rally at Potomac High School on Monday morning brought renewed attention to the case of Kayla Caldwell, a 14-year-old girl who was severely beaten during a school attack. Her mother, Juanita Caldwell, is now urging the Prince George's County State Attorney's Office to pursue arrests and charges, insisting that justice must be served.
According to Juanita Caldwell, six students involved in the assault have been expelled. However, they believe a seventh participant remains unaccounted for. In a statement, the Prince George's County School District said that "appropriate disciplinary action was taken" but would not confirm specifics, citing FERPA privacy laws.
“The safety of students is our top priority," the PGCPS statement read. "On December 5, an incident of fighting at Potomac High School resulted in injuries to a student. Our Safety and Security personnel immediately responded and worked with school staff to conduct an investigation. Administrators were in contact with the student’s family throughout the process, and appropriate disciplinary action was taken as outlined in our Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook."
The assault was caught on video and shows Kayla being punched in the head while on the floor of a closet inside the school. She was left with a broken nose, broken hand and bruises all over.
Juanita Caldwell expressed frustration at the lack of arrests so far, emphasizing that the attack on her daughter was premeditated and alleged previous altercations.
“This is not a random act," she said. "The ringleader punched my child at Thurgood Marshall [Middle School]. This is not a random act."
She further argued that failure to impose consequences would send a dangerous message to students.
“The kids at Potomac High School will not learn from this incident unless something happens, something with the criminal system, happens now," the mother said. "They need to understand that without consequences, if you get a slap on the wrist for this, the next time you’re gonna kill somebody’s child.”
While Kayla continues her recovery, her parents believe the trauma will leave lasting emotional scars. In the meantime, Juanita Caldwell has initiated discussions with State's Attorney Aisha Braveboy's office and plans to push for formal charges against those responsible.