A teenager is in the hospital and another is charged with assault after an attack police say involved a metal pipe.
The alleged attack happened yesterday at the Knott County Area Technology Center in Hindman.

18-year-old Roman Thornsbury says he walked into the welding room for supplies during his second period class.

Thornsbury says," I walked in there to get us two pieces of sandpaper so me and my buddy could finish sanding down the shelf."

He never made it back to his project.

"That's all i remember until I woke up and seen, seen my boots, and seen the blood gushing," he says.

On his way out of the welding room, police say a 17-year-old classmate hit Thornsbury in the face and head several times with a metal pipe.

Thornsbury says, "I couldn't feel nothing."

Police think the pipe came from training materials at the school.

The blows left Thornsbury with a fractured cheekbone and eight staples in his head.

Kentucky State Police Sergeant Barry Engle says, "We take these situations more and more seriously as a result of the school shootings that go on and so forth, so an assault's an assault whether you're six or 65."

Police say the alleged attack appears to be over a girl. Thornsbury was not comfortable talking about that. His parents say they want more answers, but right now they're focused on their son's recovery.

Roman's mother, Hester Thornsbury says, "I'm worried about him and if he has to have surgery I'm praying that everything goes okay."

Roman Thornsbury will see a bone specialist Monday to find out if surgery is necessary.

The 17-year-old is charged with assault and is in the Breathitt County Juvenile Detention Center.
We were unable to contact an attorney on his behalf.
Knott County School officials declined to comment for confidentiality reasons.