Special Needs Student Dies After Attack Over Cellphone at D.C. High School

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A student has reportedly died after an attack at a Washington, D.C. high school over a cellphone.

Our sister station WUSA9 reports the incident happened on Jan. 10 inside of a classroom at Ballou High School.

The student has been identified as Joevon Patterson-Smith, 17, a special needs student at the Southeast school.

Before he died, Joevon reportedly told D.C. Police that he was hit in his face and body several times after refusing to let two students use his phone. He also told police one of the attackers sprayed him with "perfume."

He was reportedly released from the hospital, but had to go back after having seizures. During his second hospital stay, he was declared brain dead, according to WUSA9. He was pronounced dead on Monday.

It is not yet clear if Joevon died as a result of the attack. Police are awaiting word from the medical examiner for the official cause of death.

Police are investigating the incident as a death at this time, and no arrests have been made.

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