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| Gabriela Penalba |
(Scroll down for video) A prankster was arrested after he set his teacher on fire while her back was to the class.
The incident took place just before 11:00 a.m. on Monday, at West High School in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Gabriela Penalba, 23, a first year teacher, had turned her back when a 15-year-old student came from behind her with a lighter, and set the teacher’s long blond hair and shirt on fire.
Quick thinking students rushed to the aid of the teacher, and helped extinguish the flames, saving Penalba from suffering burns to her body.
When the 23-year-old woman, who teaches science and physiology, left the classroom, the suspect threw the lighter out of the window and fled the scene.
When officers responded to the school, the student was gone, but he was found and arrested shortly thereafter.
The teen allegedly admitted to setting his teacher on fire.
The reason behind the fire attack is still unclear.
The student, who is not being named because of his age, has been charged in juvenile court with aggravated assault and evading arrest.