A Boston Public Schools custodian is facing serious charges after assaulting three of his former colleagues, according to an announcement by Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden. Gregory Watford, 46, from Brockton, was charged with assault and battery on a person over 60 and three counts of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury. The alleged incident occurred in October at the Mildred Avenue School.
In a Dorchester BMC arraignment on Tuesday, Judge Jonathan Tynes released Watford on personal recognizance and placed him under GPS monitoring. He has been ordered to avoid contact with the school. As part of the ongoing legal process, Watford is scheduled to return to court on January 17, 2025, for a pre-trial hearing, as per details published by the Suffolk District Attorney's Office.
Police officers responded to the incident at approximately 10:47 a.m. on October 10 after reports of an assault at the school. The victims, two custodians and a safety officer, informed the police that they were confronted by Watford, their former colleague. Watford allegedly accused them of costing him money before launching a physical assault.
One of the victims suffered a broken ankle and leg after being punched in the head by Watford. Another victim was punched and thrown to the ground, resulting in a fractured jaw. When the school's safety officer intervened to de-escalate, Watford tried to force his way into the building. "Watson then swung at her, hitting her hand and knocking her phone to the ground," as mentioned in a statement from the District Attorney's Office. In the following struggle, the safety officer sustained a fractured clavicle after being struck by the door. Watford fled the scene before officers arrived and was later arrested following the issuance of a warrant.
Describing the severity of the situation, District Attorney Hayden said, "This violent incident is particularly disturbing because it happened on the grounds of a public school, which is both a workplace and a safety zone for students," as noted by the District Attorney's Office. He also expressed his wishes for a thorough recovery for the victims and assured that his office would provide full support throughout the case.
