Gay Ind. teen had stun gun to ward off school bullies, now he's suspended

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Taser International via Getty Images

(CBS) INDIANAPOLIS - A gay Indiana teen whose mother gave him a stun gun to defend himself against bullies is facing expulsion for bringing the weapon to school and reportedly firing it into the air.

According to CBS Cleveland, 17-year-old Darnell Young, who is openly gay at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, says he has been taunted and bullied for months.

"I do not promote violence - not at all - but what is a parent to do when she has done everything that she felt she was supposed to do ... at the school?" the boy's mother, Chelisa Grimes, told CNN. "I did feel like there was nothing else left for me to do, but protect my child."

The teen's mother told the Indianapolis Star that she gave him the stun gun because she thought the school didn't do enough to protect him.

Now Young faces expulsion after threatening students last month that were bullying him at school, CBS Cleveland reports.

According CNN, Young discharged the stun gun in the air after six fellow students surrounded him on April 16 and threatened to beat him up.

"I got kicked out of school for me bringing the weapon to school, but I honestly don't think that that was fair," Young told CNN. "I didn't use it on nobody ... all I did was raise it up in the air and went back to my class."

Arsenal Tech principal Larry Yarrell says that Young is a flamboyant dresser and that school staff had been trying to get him to "tone down" his accessories.

CBS Cleveland reports that the decision on whether to expel Young is expected to be handed down in the coming days.

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by alliiskitty May 17, 2012 2:17 PM EDT: Wow...this principal sounds like a complete moron. Seriously? telling him to "tone it done".. He never said he was out of dress code. This guy must be homophobic. This is just wrong.. 1. It's not a real gun. 2. It was for self defense. 3. He shouldn't be judged by wearing feminine clothing. He'll be judged by other kids, but when that happens..that's when you take action on THOSE kids.. not the victim.; Reply to this comment


by angelofurnightmare May 12, 2012 1:53 PM EDT: If the boy was wearing fishnets and a mini skirt its an issue but if HE was following the dress code (yes the female parts like no short skirts or shirts that shot the ladies) then he had the right to dress that way. Take the blame off the bullies and place it on the bullied...sounds about like most of the systems in america.
I don't blame the mom for doing it...and what actions are being taken against the 6 kids who cornered and threatened him? Frankly I think he did the mature thing by not giving one of them a good jolt to the family jewels...I probably would have; Reply to this comment


by RickinSedona May 8, 2012 11:38 PM EDT: Schools are responsible for keeping students safe. Kids will be kids is no excuse for bullying. Here's a petition urging the district to reprimand the principal for excusing the bullies, blaming the victim and not protecting students at his school. - http://www.change.org/petitions/dr-eugene-white-superintendent-indianapolis-public-schools-ips-principal-larry-yarrell-should-be-terminated-for-condoning-bullying#; Reply to this comment


by audemus May 8, 2012 1:01 PM EDT: So....instead of going after the bullies that were tormenting this kid, the school's solution was to tell the kid being bullied to make himself less of a target ? Gee...I wonder what kind of message that sends ?; Reply to this comment

by krotec54 May 8, 2012 12:59 AM EDT

This is an obvious case of the parent failing the child. She should not allow him to wear her clothes to school. The school is not a Fashion School. I'm sure the bully just wanted to know what kind of underwear his mom wears. Sure, the mother is clueless on how to raise a boy.

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by tmittelstaed May 8, 2012 1:27 AM EDT: I agree. The kid may be 17 but he's still a minor and must follow the rules. And if the mother had a half a brain she would have laid down the law about inappropriate dress.

In a school setting, ANY CLOTHING that attracts and draws attention to the wearer to the point that it disrupts the class, is inappropriate. It doesen't matter if it's a girl wearing a transparent T-shirt that shows her breasts or a boy wearing a miniskirt, it's inappropriate and any responsible parent would not allow it.

by bobnjersey May 7, 2012 10:53 PM EDT

[According to CBS Cleveland, 17-year-old Darnell Young, who is openly gay at Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis ...]
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so ... a school named 'arsenal' has a policy against guns in the classroom?

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by krotec54 May 8, 2012 1:12 AM EDT: All schools have a School Dress Policy. They have them for a reason.

by Chase_Buchanan May 7, 2012 9:06 PM EDT

"If you wear female apparel, then kids are kids and they're going to say whatever it is that they want to say," Yarrell told CNN. "Because you want to be different and because you choose to wear female apparel, it may happen. In the idealistic society, it shouldn't matter. People should be able to wear what they want to wear."

I suppose Principal Yarrell tells female students that if they wear low-cut shirts, "it may happen" that they are raped. He is blaming the victim, and if there is any justice, he will soon be looking for a job, and be replaced by someone capable of fulfilling the school's duty to its students.

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by Gimmeafb May 8, 2012 7:03 AM EDT: come to think of it, that might be what he wanted.

It's one thing to be ocked for no reason but to go around openly asking for ridicule by dressing in an usual way is another story entirely. Yeah, he was asking for it, and he knew it.


by democracy8 May 8, 2012 8:30 AM EDT: Gimmeafb: You're pathetic.


by vissionquest May 7, 2012 9:02 PM EDT: This is an obvious case of the school failing a child, and then shocked when it turns bad. The bullies were reported, but the school decided that it was not that important. With all the incidents in the past few years, how come it is the people in charge of schools that do not understand that bullying cannot be tolerated. Some times it is called hazing, kids being kids, or an isolated incident, but the one thing obvious, schools are still allowing bullys to run the school and torture others.; Reply to this comment


by oldnassau67 May 7, 2012 7:39 PM EDT: I wish the reporter had had Mrs. Grimes outline exactly what actions she had taken previously - "when she has done everything that she felt she was supposed to do ... at the school?" the boy's mother, Chelisa Grimes, told CNN. "I did feel like there was nothing else left for me to do, but protect my child." Or asked the clueless Mr. Yarell what actions he had taken to protect Mr. Young - or any independent student.
Ironic that the school's name is Arsenal Tech.; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 May 7, 2012 7:24 PM EDT: That's the system in America. People can harass and bully a person into going over the top in their response because of getting no help, then they are blamed for whatever incident that occurs. Victims are easier to blame and punish than wrongdoers.; Reply to this comment