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CHALMETTE, La. (WVUE) - The longest-serving school principal in the United States was attacked Sunday night outside of his apartment in Chalmette, his wife confirmed Monday (June 24).

Wayne Warner, principal at Chalmette High School, was arriving at his apartment in Chalmette when deputies say he was attacked by a disabled man.

The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Christopher Kidd, was reportedly pushing over trash cans when Warner, 79, asked what he was doing. Deputies say Kidd then pushed Warner onto the concrete and stole his phone.

“Mr. Warner is a great man and known to help people,” Sheriff James Pohlmann said. “That’s why he stopped and that’s why he got out of the vehicle to help this young man. He probably thought this guy was having some type of issue and was trying to help. Probably didn’t expect for the violence to turn on him the way that it did.”

Warner’s wife wrote on social media that her injured husband faces surgery on Tuesday to repair a fractured hip and elbow, and is “going to require months of rehab.”

“But he is determined to get back to school in August,” his wife Kitty Warner wrote in a social media post. “Those of you who know Wayne well know that his determination will help him.”

Kidd was arrested for the attack and booked for simple battery, second-degree robbery, simple battery of the infirmed, and battery on a police officer.

Christopher Kidd, 33, is accused of attacking and robbing Chalmette High's 79-year-old... — Christopher Kidd, 33, is accused of attacking and robbing Chalmette High's 79-year-old principal Wayne Warner on June 23.(St. Bernard Sheriff's Office)

Sheriff Pohlmann says Kidd was a former student at Chalmette High. He was located after deputies received a call about a shoplifting incident at a nearby grocery store.

“It was Mr. Kidd on the scene and he was identified as the one shoplifting some over the counter medication,” Pohlmann said.

Kidd reportedly fought deputies before he was taken out of his wheelchair, tased, and apprehended. He will be evaluated by medical staff to determine if he needs mental health support or rehabilitation.

Kidd’s criminal history dates back to 2016 and includes charges of theft, resisting an officer, and battery. His former neighbors hope he gets the help he needs.

“He did have a temper because he used to destroy stuff and cops would get called out all the time,” a neighbor said. “I called the cops and other did too about him screaming and stuff.”

Fox 8 spoke with the man and woman who contacted 911 after hearing Warner calling for help, but they did not want to be identified. They said they found Warner calling for help about five minutes after the attack and said he was coherent.

Warner has been principal at Chalmette High since 1973. He began teaching at the school in 1966.

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