Fox That Attacked Student, Staff Members at East Windsor Was Rabid: PD

The fox that bit a second-grade boy on a playground, then attacked a gym teacher and school psychologist who rushed to his aid outside Broad Brook Elementary School in East Windsor, Connecticut, Monday morning tested positive for rabies, according to East Windsor police.

The fox, which authorities shot and killed, is also believed to have bitten a woman at a home behind the school earlier in the morning.

All four victims, including second-grade student Evan Witzke, have been hospitalized. The adults were brought to Hartford Hospital and Evan was taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center, according to his mother, who said he is doing well.

Police said the fox emerged from the woods on the north side of the school around 11:30 a.m. and attacked Evan while he was playing outside.

"I didn't see it come out of the woods. It just came and it bit my ankle, and then it tackled me and then I think it went for my wrist," Evan recalled. "My teacher got it off me and then I got up and ran away."

The gym teacher and a school psychologist managed to trap the fox under a plastic recycling container and held it until police arrived.

Now the teacher and psychologist are being hailed as heroes.

"She was being attacked as she was trying to get the fox off my son, and I'm very grateful to her and what they did to keep the other kids safe," Witzke said, adding that the teacher went "above and beyond" to protect the children.

Police believe the same fox also bit a woman and her dog earlier this morning at her parents' house on Mill Street/Route 191, less than a mile from the school. According to police, the animal wandered onto the porch around 10 a.m. and attacked the victim, who is in her 30s, when she opened the door.

East Windsor police and Animal Control responded to both scenes and said the animal was aggressive toward officers who arrived to capture it.

East Windsor police caution residents against approach animals "acting strange or appearing sick" and advise people to instead call the police department at 860-292-8240.

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