Shawnee neighbors sickened after 11-year-old girl injured in suspected racially motivated attack

Serena Mabin has lived at the Park 67 Apartment complex near Nieman Elementary School for several years. That’s why she was stunned to learn about a potentially racially motivated attack at the complex on Friday between a 12-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl.

“It’s kind of concerning because I have children that are different races,” Mabin said. “My son is a Black boy and you never know what’s going to happen, it’s kind of concerning.”

On Friday, the mother of 11-year-old Nevaeh Thomas said her daughter was being harassed by a 12-year-old boy who was taunting her with racial slurs. Nevaeh Thomas responded by saying, “My black is beautiful.”

That’s when the 12-year-old allegedly assaulted her, hitting her in the head with a pole. Nevaeh Thomas was left unconscious on the ground and bleeding.