Delaware mom calls out bullies after internet beef fuels teen attack [video]

A Hockessin mother claims a group of teens physically beat her daughter after targeting the girl in a cyber-bullying attack Tuesday.

The attack happened in the Estates of Autumnwood development in Hockessin. Tamyko Bey told police her daughter was attacked by a group of children all around the same age as her daughter.

The girl (who’s name is being withheld at this time by WHYY) has facial cuts and bruises. She says she was attacked with pine cones and a piece of concrete.  Her face was swollen with bandages when NewsWorks spoke to her mother. 

Bey is angry about the attacks. “Children are an extension of their parents,” said Bey, a Wilmington business owner. Her daughter who was attacked is  youngest of her two daughters.

According to Bey, three girls and three boys physically assaulted her 13-year-old  daughter. The incident happened in the quiet Hockessin neighborhood among teens who were all initially friends. But the friendship ended once the teens took their problems to the internet.

“I just have a lot of different issues with this. I just don’t think that the schools, law enforcement and parents are taking bullying as serious as it is,” Bey said.  She wouldn’t go into the details that led to attack.

New Castle County Police are investigating this matter.  Bey said one of the teens involved was charged with a misdemeanor. Earlier today, officials wouldn’t comment on the case but said they are aware of the situation. By late Thursday afternoon, things shifted when  Bey updated her Facebook page saying police would revisit the charges in the case after her story gained much social media attention.

Police even shared more details in a press release that stated, “The investigation, which is still on-going, has so-far resulted in one of the teens arrested for misdemeanor assault.  That teen was arraigned on the charge, and released to their parents on $500 unsecured bail and issued a No-contact order with the victim.”

However, the mother of the victim is still looking to have everyone punished. “I feel like they didn’t charge these children appropriately only one child was charged, I’m not satisfied with that,” Bey added.

Bey said her daughter had to get seven stitches above her eye and received several bruises as a result of the fight. She ultimately blames the parents.

“If parents aren’t doing their job, then this is going to happen,” Bey said.

Delaware legislators have addressed bullying including cyber attacks in recent years.  A number of programs have been implemented and state leaders continue to work to keep children across the state safe. Stay with NewsWorks and WHYY for the latest developments. First will continue to look into the Hockessin fight and the issue of cyber-bullying.