Attack on Chalmette High School principal leaves him ‘severely injured,’ needing surgery

CHALMETTE, La. (WGNO) — A long-time Chalmette High School principal is recovering after being attacked on Sunday, June 23.

According to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, around 8 p.m., deputies and an ambulance were called to the 2900 block of Palmetto Street. Upon arrival, they said the victim, Wayne Warner, was found suffering from injuries due to being in a fight.

Warner told deputies that he was driving down Palmetto Street when he noticed a man, Christopher Kidd, in a wheelchair, knocking over trashcans and a mailbox.

”Mr. Warner, if anybody knows Mr. Warner, he’s always trying to help people he got out of his vehicle and approached the adult person and asked if he could help him in any kind of way. At that point the exchange turned to violence,” Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Police said Warner got out of his car to ask Kidd if he needed help when he allegedly became angry and pushed Warner to the ground. Kidd also took Warner’s cell phone and threw it into bushes.

A post made to social media by Warner’s wife explained that the incident left him with a broken hip and “severely broken elbow.” He was taken to a hospital and will require surgery, according to deputies.

Shortly after the incident, deputies said Kidd was allegedly caught stealing from a nearby business and arrested after putting up a fight with deputies.

”We received a call from Winn-Dixie of a shoplifter. When we got on the scene, it was Mr. Kidd on the scene and he was the one identified as shoplifting some over the counter medication,” Pohlmann said.

Kidd was booked into the St. Bernard Parish Prison on charges of second-degree robbery, simple battery of the infirm, theft, simple assault, shoplifting, resisting a police officer with force or violence and battery on a police officer.  

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call SBSO at 504-271-2501 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

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