“We have no reason to believe this was race-related or that there was any intent for anyone to be harmed,” the district’s superintendent said Nov. 18.

• The superintendent of Charles County Public Schools wrote in a memo to the school community on Nov. 18 that the hanging incident does not appear to be “race-related.”

• The 2nd grader’s mother claimed in an earlier social media post that her son was “hung up” in a boys’ bathroom at a Maryland school by a 4th grader on Nov. 15 .

• Elementary School Principal C. Paul Barnhart said in an earlier letter that the incident involved “horseplay”

The superintendent of a Maryland school district responded to an incident involving an alleged hanging at an elementary school that left a 7-year-old boy injured, saying what happened did not appear to be “race-related.”

According to the boy’s mother in a social media post and a subsequent interview with WUSA News 9the incident happened Friday, Nov. 15, at her son’s school, which was later identified as C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School in Charles County.

She claimed her son, a second-grader, was “hung up” by a fourth-grader in the boy’s bathroom.

“The principal walked into the bathroom and found my child foaming at the mouth and unconscious,” the mother wrote in her post. “I walked into the trauma room with 8-10 doctors surrounding my son. This is the most heartbreaking and traumatic situation my family has ever been in.”

Related: California teen killed himself after allegedly being bullied for being homeless, father says

The mom also wrote in her post: “Everything about this is unacceptable, nothing is ok BULLYING is never ok. I feel anger and see red but my son is here by the grace of GOD and I will be forever grateful! I have so many unanswered questions.”

In an interview with WUSA, the boy’s parents said their son was later left with “marks under his eyes” and “bruises on his neck from suffocation.”

“He is traumatized. It will take time,” the boy’s mother told the press. “This is not something he’s going to get overnight.”

Related: Kid Hero Speaks Out After ‘His Quick Actions’ Prevent School Bus Crash: ‘Look Out For Each Other’

In a Nov. 15 letter to parents and staff following the incident, C. Paul Barnhart Elementary Principal Carrie Burke characterized what happened between the two students in the bathroom as “horseplay.”

“Apparently two of our students were playing with horses in a school bathroom when one student’s jacket got caught on the hook of the stall door,” Burke wrote.

“The student was unable to free himself and the other student involved was unable to help them,” the letter continued. “This student left the bathroom to seek help from staff and reported the incident to administrators. Administrators responded and were able to assist, but staff called 911 for additional precautionary medical assistance.”

Related: An autistic student is ’embarrassed’ after Washington middle school put his desk in the bathroom

Three days after the incident, Charles County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Navarro written in a letterwhich was shared online by WTOP News, that the district is supporting the families of the students affected in this matter and that the investigation is being handled by district administrators and Barnhart.

The 7-year-old victim is still recovering from the November 18 incident, WTOP news reported.

Both students are not currently in school, according to Navarro, who did not share additional details. The mother of the 7-year-old boy told WTOP News that her son will not be returning.

Never miss a story – sign up PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to keep up with everything PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Beginning (Nov. 18), we gathered additional statements from staff and students and completed a thorough review of the school’s surveillance footage,” the superintendent said. “Based on our investigation so far, we have no reason to believe this was race-related or that there was any intent for anyone to be harmed. However, disciplinary consequences are being imposed pursuant to the CCPS Student Code of Conduct due to the serious nature of this incident.”

Navarro added, “This morning, Barnhart administrators reviewed school staff protocols for student restroom use. This includes ensuring that students travel to the bathrooms in pairs and reminding staff of existing protocols related to hallway and bathroom monitoring.”

The superintendent also noted that there have been “serious threats as well as disturbing rhetoric circulating online” following the attention the issue has received, adding: “Out of an abundance of caution, we will continue to have additional police resources at the school and staff of support. external.”

Related: Mother sues school district after wheelchair-using son breaks both legs when left unattended

Navarro concluded the letter by saying he was working with Barnhart’s principal to arrange a meeting with the school community.

Responding to the school district’s announcement of an investigation Sunday, Nov. 17, the mother said WJLA, ABC affiliate that people must understand the gravity of the situation.

“His face, his physical appearance is… I can’t even explain it. I don’t want to see my child like this,” said the mother.

As for the school’s claim of “horseplay,” the boy’s mother told WUSA it “makes no sense to me.”

“How do you get caught on a hook?” she added. “I want answers and we won’t stop until we get answers.”

PEOPLE reached out to the boy’s mother, C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School Principal Carrie Burke, and the Charles County Department of Emergency Services on Nov. 18 for comment.