She Could Have Killed Him
A woman punted a little boy who cannot swim into the deep end of a hotel pool because she thought he was being "mean to another child," according to police. Let that sink in. A grown adult kicked someone else's child into water deep enough to drown him, knowing he could not swim.
The boy, whose age has not been publicly disclosed, was at the hotel pool when the woman decided to take matters into her own hands over what she perceived as misbehavior. Instead of speaking to the child, speaking to his parents, or alerting hotel staff, she physically launched him into water that could have killed him.
This Is Not Discipline. This Is Assault.
Even if the boy was being mean to another child, which is normal kid behavior that happens at every pool in America, no stranger has the right to put a child's life in danger. Kicking a non-swimmer into deep water is not a lesson. It is attempted murder by any reasonable standard.
The child had to be rescued from the water. Had nobody been paying attention, had the rescue been even seconds slower, this story would have a very different ending.
She Was Arrested
Police arrested the woman and charged her with assault on a minor. Depending on the jurisdiction and the severity of the charges, she could face significant jail time. Prosecutors may also consider elevated charges given that she knowingly put a non-swimmer in deep water, which demonstrates awareness that her actions could cause death.
The boy's family is reportedly cooperating with police and considering civil action against both the woman and the hotel for failing to provide adequate supervision and safety.
Parents Are Furious
This story has gone viral because every parent can imagine their child in that pool. The idea that a stranger would physically harm your kid over a minor behavioral issue is every parent's nightmare. Children misbehave. That is what they do. You do not respond by trying to drown them.
We hope this boy recovers from the trauma of what happened to him. And we hope the woman who did this faces the full consequences of her actions.
