Mom livid after bullies point gun at autistic son's head, punch him—and order him to kiss their feet

A viral video shows bullies attacking a 13-year-old boy who's on the autism spectrum — punching him, pointing a gun at his head, and ordering him to kiss their feet.

When his mother found out, she was understandably livid.

"I was hurt," Emily Bridges told WDAF-TV. "I was angry. I was crying. I was mad. I was upset because he didn't defend himself."

What happened?

Bridges told the station she didn't know why her son Darren, a seventh-grader, came home with bruises on his face Saturday. Then Bridges' younger son showed her the video, WDAF reported.

The video shows Darren kneeling while other kids use racial slurs and yell at him to kiss their feet.

Image source: WDAF-TV video screenshot

And then someone pulls out a gun and holds it against Darren's head, the station said.

Image source: WDAF-TV video screenshot

That was followed by one person throwing punches at Darren, WDAF reported, adding that Bridges said the kids who attacked Darren also stole money from him.

Image source: WDAF-TV video screenshot

"It's sad that other kids think it's OK to treat people that way," Bridges told the station. "I don't want my kids to treat people that way, and I don't allow them to."

What did police have to say?

Bridges went to police in Independence, Missouri, on Monday but said they initially seemed unmoved by the incident, WDAF said.

"He just really said that they're minors. There's not a lot that happens to them," she recalled to the station. "They have to do community service. There's not a lot. I should just keep Darren away from there and keep him at home."

Image source: WDAF-TV video screenshot

But Tuesday was different — because Bridges went back to police looking for someone to take responsibility, WDAF said.

What happened to the accused attackers?

Police said a 17-year-old and two other juvenile suspects were taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, WDAF reported, adding that the 17-year-old turned himself in.

What did Bridges say about the accused attackers?

"I'm a parent and a mom, so I do feel bad for them to an extent," Bridges told the station of the accused attackers. "I do think that all kids should suffer the consequences."

She told the station that her sons have been victims of violence before this incident and that she wants other parents to start taking responsibility.

"I think a lot of them don't have parents that care," Bridges told WDAF in reference to bullies in general. "Not that they don't have them but just aren't around and don't care." She added to the station that she hopes "other kids see this and see that those actions and those behaviors are not OK."