Texas mother seeks accountability after autistic daughter attacked on school campus
In San Antonio, a mother continues to press for answers after her 13-year-old daughter, who has autism and ADHD, was assaulted by other students at Sul Ross Middle School.
The case has now moved into juvenile court, where one of the students accused of the attack has already faced a judge.
Hazel McDonald said the moment brought some relief, but not closure. “There’s some accountability, and that’s what we wanted,” she said, while also describing the situation as “beyond frustrating.”
She added that her daughter “is not the kid that’s going to be aggressive,” responding to claims that the incident was started by Maddison.
Months of reported bullying before the attack
According to Hazel, the February assault followed a prolonged period of harassment that she says was repeatedly reported but never properly addressed.
“Every time she has her statement ripped up, she’s told she’s making it up and to go back to class,” Hazel wrote on a GoFundMe page created to support medical and legal expenses. The fundraiser has raised more than $13,800.
She has maintained that warnings about threats were ignored until the situation escalated into violence.
A source familiar with the case reviewed surveillance footage that has not been publicly released. The video, described to News 4 San Antonio, shows Maddison walking on campus before being surrounded by several students. Only two were charged in connection with the incident.
Conflicting accounts over response and responsibility
Hazel has accused school staff of failing to intervene and later minimizing what happened. She said faculty members “stood by and did nothing,” and claimed her daughter was left injured and frightened after the attack.
She also alleged that Maddison was made to write a statement blaming herself and was not allowed to immediately contact her parents or receive medical care. According to Hazel, emergency services were not called, and she only learned about the situation after her daughter managed to reach out for help.
The school has disputed those claims, stating that administrators acted promptly and followed district procedures.
In a statement to News 4 San Antonio, officials from Northside Independent School District said disciplinary measures were taken and that police handled charges in accordance with state law. The district added that it could not release specific details but emphasized that such behavior would not be tolerated.
One of the students accused in the attack has been found guilty of assault causing bodily injury and destruction of private property, according to Hazel. The case involved a deferred prosecution agreement that includes jail time, supervision, counseling, community service, and restrictions on electronic device use.
The second student facing charges is expected to appear in court later this month.
Hazel said that while some progress has been made, her family is still seeking broader accountability and transparency, particularly regarding the handling of the incident and the release of video evidence.
Maddison has since left the school, and her mother continues to call for changes, saying simply: “We want change. That’s all we want.”
