A Virginia teen who spent nine days in the hospital after fighting back against his anti-gay bullies at high school is now being charged with assault, NBC 12 reports:

[Eric’s mother Mary Martin] admits Eric threw the first punch, but she says he was a victim of bullying. She says he was constantly hit with gay slurs. The Martins are fighting back with the help of family advocate Tammy Motola.

“It’s always the perpetrators that get away with the crime,” said Motola. “When the victims have finally had enough, after being verbally attacked and bullied for years and they snap…they are the ones that are penalized.”

Eric was initially prevented from coming back to any Henrico school until he signed a student threat documentation form over allegations he threatened the school.

Mary Martin refused to sign any documentation and launched a campaign called Letters for Eric in support of her son.

NBC 12 adds:

“He has been called names,” said Martin. “He has been called gay. He has been called a f——.”

The Martin family is pleading for help as Eric remains on suicide watch.

“Bullying is real,” cried Martin. “And bullying can take your children away from here if you don’t pay close attention.”

Watch a news report on the story, AFTER THE JUMP…

(h/t Jezebel)

NBC12 – Richmond, VA News