A North Carolina teaching assistant has been charged after allegedly grabbing and slamming a 5-year-old student with disabilities, according to the child’s grandmother.
The Edgecombe County Sheriff’s Office said they received a call from Edgecombe County Schools on October 1 about an assault by a teacher’s assistant at G. W. Bulluck Elementary School.
Authorities say 47-year-old Regina Gray, of Conetoe, is accused of assaulting the young child, who has mild autism. Gray now faces charges of assault by strangulation, assault on an individual with a disability, and misdemeanor child abuse.
Officials say the incident was caught on camera. On October 8, the child’s grandmother, Lawanda Cooper Alston, said she and other family members were allowed to view the footage at the school.
“She strangled him and she slammed him on the bus steps,” Alston told WRAL News.
Teacher Assistant Arrested
Alston says her grandson has mild autism but is able to speak and communicate.
Records show Gray was arrested on Monday, October 6, and has since bonded out. The Edgecombe County School District confirmed that Gray is no longer employed with the district.
Court documents show Gray’s next court appearance is scheduled for October 22, 2025.
