A boy died after he was beaten by school bullies who were paid one dollar to hit him, it has been reported.
Tragic Romy Vilsaint, 12, died on Friday in a New York hospital.
The schoolboy had taken a bad turn the previous night after complaining of a headache before he began vomiting at home, his family said.
The boy's cousin Roodwiny Exantus said Romy told him a group of classmates at attacked him shortly before his death.
WLBT reports him as saying: “He stated that he got jumped by two kids on Wednesday, and on Thursday, he got hit in the back of the head real hard.
"The principal asked the kid why he did that. The kids were like he got a paid a dollar to do that. He had a severe headache, and he had to spend the rest of the day in the nurse’s office in the school."
The family want to know why the school didn't take the boy to a hospital after calling his dad, who was at work and didn't answer.
Roodwiny said: “To me, they did something wrong. If the kid got hit in the head, couldn’t come back to class and you’re told it’s severe, you don’t need to wait for his dad’s permission. Just take him out to the hospital."
Investigators are said to have declared the case 'suspicious' and a medical report is being prepared and is expected to be released next week.
Department of Education spokesman Nathaniel Styer said: "This is a horrible tragedy and our thoughts are with the family during this incredibly difficult time.
"The safety of our young people is our absolute priority and this incident will be thoroughly investigated, and we are providing supports to both the family and school community."
