Lakewood High paraprofessional resigns after alleged assault on special-needs student

Sumter School District confirmed with The Sumter Item that a paraprofessional with Lakewood High School resigned in September after video footage backed up allegations of assault on a special-needs student.

Shelly Galloway, executive director of communication and community engagement with the district, said the paraprofessional was placed on administrative leave on Sept. 11 pending the outcome of an investigation regarding an incident that occurred Sept. 10.

The allegation was reported to the school on Sept. 11 and, to avoid termination, the employee resigned on Sept. 15. This is the only resignation related to the incident, Galloway said. 

The employee initially worked for Sumter School District from July 25, 2024 through July 21, 2025, and was rehired August 18, 2025, for a position at Lakewood, according to Shelly Galloway,  executive director of communication and community engagement for the district. 

The employee's name has not been released to the public. 

Derrick Hastie, father of the Lakewood freshman Stylez Hastie who was reportedly assaulted, told The Item on Wednesday the family was informed about the incident through a relative. After confronting the school, which was unaware the incident had occurred, Hastie said, the school reviewed the footage and then notified the parents of the employee’s resignation. The family requested to see the footage but was denied, as the district attorney “didn’t want the video to be released,” school personnel told them. 

Hastie said legal representation for the family reached out to the district and was asked by the district's attorney whether the family wanted to settle the case. Hastie said there was no discussion of a lawsuit before viewing the footage. 

After further questioning from the family’s attorney, the family and their attorney viewed the school’s footage for the first time on Tuesday, Oct. 14, more than a month after the incident occurred.

Hastie described the footage as “horrible.” In his post to social media, Hastie said his son was thrown to the ground and choked by the back of his neck. 

Charges were filed Tuesday, Hastie told The Item. An investigation is ongoing by Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. 

This is an ongoing story, and more information will be released as it becomes available.