In Savannah, Georgia, a mother is raising her voice after a distressing incident involving her eighth-grade son, who was reportedly assaulted at home by a group of boys he once considered friends. What began as a trivial disagreement at school concerning snacks spiraled into violence later that day.

Tremel Lamonte, an eighth-grade student, recounted how an ordinary day took an unexpected and unsettling turn. The initial argument arose when Tremel informed his classmates that he didn’t have enough snacks to share, a response that apparently disgruntled them.

“They showed up at my house later, still insisting on getting snacks,” Tremel shared.

When he refused their request once more, the situation escalated, leading to a physical attack. Tremel’s mother, Tanisha Lamonte, expressed her disbelief and concern, emphasizing that her son had never been involved in such violence before.

“He doesn’t get into fights. This is entirely out of character for him,” Tanisha stated. “It’s especially shocking that those he considered friends would do this over something as trivial as snacks.”

Tanisha says Tremel was punched, kicked, thrown to the floor and beaten with a belt buckle. The incident was recorded on video.

“The boy went to school the next day, showing the video all around and put it on social media before coming to my house. He was going around, I guess, looking for a gun,” she said.

The next day, Tremel and his mother met with administrators at Pulaski Elementary School. Tanisha says the situation is “truly disturbing” and wants the school system to intervene earlier when conflicts arise.

“These kids, they are too scared to speak up,” she said. “They don’t feel safe enough or feel like anything is going to happen to protect them. They see there are no consequences being done. They say, ‘If I do this right here, oh, they might get ISS, but there are no real consequences. So, they’re not speaking up, and that’s not right.”

The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System said the Board of Education Police Department launched an investigation after the incident was reported, and the Savannah Police Department is now the lead agency.

As of now, no criminal charges have been filed, and two boys who attend Tremel’s school have been suspended. There is no word yet on the consequences for the minor involved, who attends a different school.

You can read the district’s full statement below.

SCCPSS Statement Regarding Pulaski Student Incident

“BOEPD is investigating an alleged incident that took place in a bathroom at Pulaski K-8 School.  That investigation began AFTER an alleged battery incident that took place at the home of a student on Monday, November 17, 2025.  The Savannah Police Department is the lead investigating agency in the off-campus incident and SCCPSS can therefore not comment on the status of that investigation.

The alleged on-campus incident was not reported to the school until November 18, 2025  (following the alleged off-campus incident) and an investigation was immediately begun by BOEPD.  Based on the details surrounding the off-campus incident, school administrators determined disciplinary consequences were required per the Student Code of Conduct to ensure the school remained a safe place for all.  The SCCPSS Code of Conduct provides for appropriate actions when school jurisdiction is in question as this did not occur on campus. 

The code of conduct states:

When incidents occur off school grounds, the authority of the school over the conduct of students extends when it is determined that a student’s behavior has a direct and immediate effect on maintaining order or discipline in schools or maintaining the safety and welfare of the students and staff.  Incidents that occur off school grounds could result in the student being criminally charged with a felony subject to the jurisdiction of the municipality where the incident took place.

In addition, school administrators have visited every 7th and 8th-grade Pulaski classroom in person to discuss the seriousness of abuse, battery, bullying, and cyberbullying.  They emphasized the importance of “See Something, Say Something” and reminded students that teachers, counselors, and administrators are always available to receive concerns, no matter how small.”