A Florida mother has been arrested and charged with child abuse after allegedly getting involved in a fight between her daughter and another teenager at a bus stop.
The altercation, captured on video and widely circulated online, shows Kathryn Stephanopoulos, 34, intervening as her daughter fights another girl.
In the video, Stephanopoulos is seen stepping into the fight by placing the other teen in a headlock, which allowed her daughter to hit the opponent more effectively.
The situation intensified when a bystander intervened, pulling Stephanopoulos away from the student, but the violence persisted. At one point, Stephanopoulos was struck with a Stanley cup during the commotion.
Reports indicate that the dispute between the two teenagers had been ongoing since the summer and erupted when school resumed last week.
Stephanopoulos’ daughter had reportedly informed her mother of the planned confrontation at the bus stop.
Stephanopoulos has been charged with aggravated child abuse and was released on a $1,000 bond. Police have stated that she has shown remorse for her actions.
Her daughter, whose name has not been disclosed, may face misdemeanor charges, while the other student involved in the fight has been arrested and charged with felony aggravated battery.
