N.J. mom beaten unconscious by school bully who threatened her son: Prosecutors

PASSAIC, N.J. (WPIX) -- A 13-year-old boy was arrested after allegedly assaulting a mother and her son in New Jersey last week.

It happened on June 19 after 3 p.m. on Lexington Avenue near Monroe Street in Passaic.

Beronica Ruiz was pushing her 1-year-old in a stroller, walking home from school with her 12-year-old and 8-year-old sons when they realized they were being followed by a group of three boys.

Her right eye is bloodshot. Her eye socket, fractured and bruised, after a punch to the face by an alleged bully who first targeted her 12-year-old son.

Ruiz suffered a concussion and can't remember the attack. But her children witnessed it all.

The attack stemmed from an argument on June 18 in the lunchroom at Passaic Gifted and Talented Academy Public School No. 20.

"These kid were telling the Mexicans that all the Mexicans should be behind the wall," said Alfonso Vasquez, Ruiz's husband. "My son told them 'What are you talking about? We are all immigrants.'"

His son was allegedly threatened with violence. He sought help from a teacher.

He was then placed in a separate room or an office for the rest of the school day for his own protection. His parents went to talk to school administrators, who did not call Ruiz and her husband about the incident in school that day. Ruiz and Vasquez say the vice principal apologized to them for not notifying them about the incident but stated the situation was under control.

Later that day is when the attack on Ruiz and her son occurred.

But even after the vicious attack that put her in the hospital, the alleged bully was still in school. He was not immediately suspended, according to the family.

The 13-year-old alleged attacker has been charged with assault and released to his parents.

"Because this all started because of those words," said Vasquez. "They hate us because we are Mexican."

The Passaic County Prosecutors Office is handling the investigation.