CANTON, Miss. (WJTV) – A mother of a student who was allegedly assaulted in Canton wants justice.

Catanna Francois, 15, is a student at Nichols Middle School. The teenager said she was physically and verbally assaulted on Thursday, April 4 by the school’s resource officer.

Francois claimed she was cursed at, choked, and dragged down the hall after attempting to use the restroom when given permission to do so by a teacher.

“I just want justice. And I’m hurt. I feel empty. I know I got a heart. I don’t even know if it’s beating, but I know I’m awake. I’m in a nightmare, and it ain’t right. And if I knew that they really hated my child, I would’ve never let my child go. I will never let her go there. And that’s why I keep telling her that I’m sorry,” said Alexis Davis, Francois’ mother.

Davis said she has not heard anything from the school regarding the incident. Her child has not been back to the school since last Thursday.

WJTV 12 News reached out to the Canton Public School District about the incident. They released the following statement:

The Canton Public School District authorities investigated an incident that occurred at Nichols Middle School on April 4, 2024. The incident involved an altercation between an eighth-grade student and a school resource officer. After conducting a thorough investigation, it was discovered that the resource officer had failed to adhere to proper procedures and protocols. Consequently, the Nichols Middle School resource officer was terminated. The Canton Public School District remains committed to providing a safe, orderly, and conducive learning environment for all our students.

CPSD Superintendent Gary Hannah