Mother charged for giving her son a BB gun to protect himself from school bullies

Sylvia Mojica, 38, from Hartford, Connecticut has been charged with risk of injury to a minor



A Connecticut mother has been jailed for giving her 12-year-old son a BB gun and a folding knife so he could defend himself from bullies at school.

Sylvia Mojica of Hartford has been charged with risk of injury to a minor, authorities said.

Police say the 38-year-old allegedly packed the shooter and blade in her son's backpack after he complained about being picked on.

The boy has been suspended for 10 days and Burns Elementary School has recommended him for expulsion, Hartford Schools spokesperson said.

He has also been referred to juvenile authorities.



Mojica allegedly gave her son the weapons last Friday and the boy told school officials that he had the items in his bag.

Although trying to help her son, Mojica is accused of going too far in her efforts to protect him.

Local resident Stephanie Kelley said that she's new to the neighbourhood but is horrified by Mojica's actions, as her kids have just started at the school.

'I'm a mother of four and a grandmother', Kelley said. 'I'm floored. There's no way I would encourage my child to bring a weapon to school or provide them with a weapon to go to school.'





Officials say they are looking into the bullying claims but security officers at the school had apparently once seen the boy being chased by students.

Mojica is expected to appear in court on October 29.

The charges come the same day that the U.S. Department of Education issued new guidelines warning schools that they need to do more to protect students from bullying.

Educational institutions have been told that tolerating harassment could put them in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws.

Safeguard: Mojica packed her 12-year-old son's backpack with a BB gun and folding knife to take to Burns Elementary School to protect himself from bullies



This move for greater protection follows several high-profile cases of bullying in recent months and even students committing suicide over their torment.

Russlyn Ali, assistant secretary for civil rights, said the department was responding to what seems to be a growing problem within schools.

Ali said that the Office for Civil Rights had received 800 complaints alleging harassment over the last year.

It's reported that there is also an increase of harassment against certain groups - including gays and lesbians, as well as Muslim students after the September 11 attacks.

