STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) --- An NYPD school safety agent is accused of punching an autistic man in the eye at a Staten Island high school last week, according to police, sources and the victim's family.
Carmine Menzella, 24, called his mom hysterical crying after the incident at Susan Wagner High School on April 8.
"Mommy, mommy, he punched me in the eye," Rita Menzella told PIX11 News Tuesday about their phone conversation.
The woman rushed to the high school and was enraged when she saw her son bleeding from his left eye before confronting the school safety agent, she said.
"I ran over to him like a loony bin, cursing and crying," the mom said. "But I didn't want to get arrested."
Kristo Rodriguez, 29, allegedly punched Carmine in the face after telling the victim to leave the Manor Road campus, sources said. The incident was captured on surveillance video before Rodriquez was arrested and charged with assault, according to the NYPD and family.
Carmine graduated from Susan Wagner and was there visiting his friends. The woman claims the attack was unprovoked and her son didn't defend himself.
"My son didn't do anything. He didn't just want him in the school," the mom said.
Menzella then took her son to the local precinct, where the ambulance was called to take him to the hospital. The man needed five stitches to the close the bloody gash near his swollen eye.
"He was bleeding all over," the mom said. "I almost passed out. I never seen my son like that."
Rodriguez was given a desk appearance ticket and is due back in court on April 28.
It was unclear if he was still working at the school after the incident.
Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. See more of her work here.
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