MURPHY, Texas — Arrest documents have revealed troubling details about an alleged attack on a teacher outside Boggess Elementary School last Thursday morning.
Amber Beayrd, a parent, shared that her son and other students witnessed the incident during recess. “They were outside for recess activities when he heard screaming and saw what was happening,” she said.
According to police reports, Daniel Okungbowa approached the teacher, asking about her job. When she tried to walk away, Okungbowa allegedly ran up behind her and grabbed her in a full-body hold. A struggle ensued on the ground, during which the teacher bit Okungbowa’s hand in an attempt to free herself.
Police say Okungbowa released her after her school radio sounded but fled with the teacher’s phone and radio. Authorities tracked the phone nearby and arrested Okungbowa on robbery and theft charges.
Genevieve Petersen, Program Director at Chamberlain Studios of Self-Defense in Dallas, expressed concern over the attack occurring on school grounds during school hours. She emphasized the need for situational awareness and demonstrated simple self-defense techniques, advising individuals to drop their weight and use their hands effectively when under attack.
Petersen explained, “Dropping my weight is crucial because trying to lift up won’t work against a stronger attacker. Bringing him closer allows me to reach his face, claw, grab, and push him away.”
She reassured that basic self-defense moves are simple yet essential for safety, stressing the importance of knowledge when every second counts.
