East New York high school student says he was assaulted by teacher

The student says at the time, he was still recovering from heart surgery and that the altercation broke his healing wounds.

Julia Joseph

Oct 9, 2024, 10:18 PM

Updated 77 days ago

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A sophomore at Thomas Jefferson High School says his FDNY leadership instructor assaulted him.
Jeremiah Wilson says his teacher touched his chest and "kneed" him to the ground.
Wilson says at the time, he was still recovering from heart surgery and that the altercation broke his healing wounds.
His mother Donetta McClean says it sent her son back into the hospital.
"His shoulders were red, with bruising, you lift up his shirt, you see lumps," she says.
Wilson says he had an incident with the teacher back in May.
"I had a ski mask on, and he took it off my head and I never got it back," he says.
Wilson says when he saw the teacher this school year, he said to him, "I will smack you."
He says he said it in a "joking' manner" and "under (his) breath."
Wilson says the teacher then got violent after that.
"He was like 'I don't work for DOE," said Wilson. "I work for FDNY, so I can do stuff like this and get away with it."'
The instructor is still employed by the FDNY, but not by the Department of Education.
News 12 asked the FDNY if it felt that it was safe to keep the employee on staff with the allegations, but has not heard back yet.