Student angry about being called gay lashes out at FWBHS

FORT WALTON BEACH — A 17-year-old boy said he was angry about being called gay and lost control, kicking and punching another student.

The boy was charged with battery for the Sept. 2 incident at Fort Walton Beach High School.

He said he had been teased for two days and that he was upset and lost control. He said he was sorry if he hurt anybody, but when he gets angry he cannot control himself and that it runs in the family, according to his Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office report.

The victim told the deputy that he had walked up to the front of the classroom to put his paper in a folder, and noticed someone else's paper was in it by mistake. He was asking around the classroom to find out whose paper it was, when he noticed that the other boy appeared upset.

The angry boy responded by kicking him in the shin, elbowing him in the jaw and punching him in the eye. He was suspended. The other boy went to the hospital.

His injuries included a split eyelid, a black eye that was swollen shut and headaches. His contact was also possibly on the back side of his eyeball, according to the report.