LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A fifth-grade girl at Goldsmith Elementary School walked into the apartment building where she lives with her family earlier this month. She had her pink backpack on, returning from school just after 5:30 p.m.
Just a couple minutes later, a young man with an orange mask covering his face ran out the door, the girl's family chasing after him.
Surveillance video from outside the building that day — Sept. 15 — captures the comings and goings. The girl's mother said the suspect took her daughter's cellphone and spanked her before running out.
Police eventually caught the suspect and charged him with robbery. But his name hasn't been publicly released because, despite the fact that he's believed to be at least 17 years old, the victim's family said he's enrolled in Goldsmith Elementary as a fifth-grader. The family said the two are in different fifth grade classes.
"He knows her and he broke into my house," the victim's mother said in an interview through a translator, as she only speaks Spanish. "The first day, I think it was August. ... He broke into her room to steal her computer."
Louisville Metro Police said the suspect was charged with robbery and, after consulting with the Commonwealth's Attorney Office, he was charged as a juvenile.
But police don't know his exact age. Police said the alleged teenager was released to his parents.
Sources told WDRB the suspect is from Senegal and his family's immigration papers claim he's 10 years old. But sources say his family also produced documents that say he's 17.
Carolyn Callahan, Chief Communications Officer with JCPS, said last week she didn't have any information regarding the case. But this week, she said the district follows documentation provided by the family to determine enrollment.
"Due to state and federal student privacy laws we are unable to provide information about individual students," Callahan said in a written statement. "Again, JCPS follows state enrollment guidelines based on the paperwork families/guardians provide."
The girl's family said they want justice for their daughter and questions how JCPS let this happen.
"If they don't make a determination, then I will make one," her mother said.
LMPD said the Department of Homeland Security is now investigating.
Goldsmith Elementary School (WDRB Photo)
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