Walter Welsh, who is an elementary school teacher for Deerfield Beach Middle School, is considered a hero as he did all he could do to stop the brutal attack on 15 year-old Josie Lou Ratley. After a flurry of disturbing text messages, including one text implying Treacy (15 year-old that allegedly nearly beat Josie Lou to death) was going to "snap" her (Josie Lou Ratley) neck at Deerfield Beach Middle School.
Wayne Treacy (pictured in slideshow below) asked his 13 year-old girlfriend about the whereabouts of Josie Lou Ratley. After that moment, the horrific incident occurred that leaves Josie Lou Ratley at Broward County General Hospital in a medically induced coma.
According to CBS News, Walter Welsh says he was about 100 feet away from the bus stop when he noticed a commotion with a boy standing over a girl in the school bus area on campus.
"At first I thought they were playing," Welsh told CBS affiliate WFOR Monday. "His foot came down. Came down a second time. When I saw him cock his leg, he kicks her. I'm screaming, 'Stop!'"
Welsh says he ran over to Ratley and stopped Wayne Treacy before he was able to land the third kick. He realized that Ratley was gravely injured and told one of the other adults to call for an ambulance while he escorted Treacy to the school office.
Walter Welsh said a premeditated attack is difficult to stop.
"This young man walked on our campus through nobody's fault," Welsh said. "He looked just like one of our kids. He's only 15. We have students at our school older than that. He blended right in."
Welsh said there were at least three teachers and staff in the school bus area last Wednesday. He added that teachers often volunteer their time to make sure the process runs smoothly. He said he is always looking out for potential problems between students, but the attack on Ratley came out of nowhere. - CBS News
The Ratley family does not have medical insurance. Checks for the Josie Lou Ratley Fund can be dropped off at any Wachovia office or mailed to the Wachovia branch at 2989 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410.
Comments
how terribly sad. i think what's most upsetting is how smug the detained girl looks... i wonder what happened in her life that she decided to lash out at others, or if she was just trying to impress the older boy? who knows. very sad indeed.
where were the other teachers were this all happened? They shouldve been alert once she ws dropped to the floor..
This is repulsive. Kids can be insensitive and mean sometimes, but there is NEVER an excuse for brutally attacking someone! I was disgusted at the Mom's (and step-father's) attempts to share "the other side" of the story. Again, NOTHING warrants assault!!!
Where were all the teachers, you ask? They were outside (at least 3 of them), monitoring the departure of hundreds of kids. As soon as a teacher saw what was happening, he took action. This is NOT THE FAULT of the school, but the boy who committed the crime. Please don't lose sight of that!
Im just completelt sickened over the fact this happened at school!! But even more at Tracies parents!! They made fools of themselves on the Today Show when they spoke "their side of the story" They showed no sorrow for the mother of Josie(who will never be the same again inside or out!! She will be in constant pain the rest of her 'different; life...Its ridiculous that this kid is even going to have a trial!! He should get the D/ penalty,because after something this horrific hes done he will always be a threat to society.Someone else may "pee him off'
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