High School Acid Attack Was Fueled By Bad Blood

Yesterday, a Brooklyn teenager was arrested after she attacked a classmate with acid during chemistry class. Zhanna Smsarian, 16, was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court for pouring acid on 15-year-old Albina Eshimbaeva’s head during a class at Fort Hamilton High School in Bay Ridge. And would you believe it: the attack was (at least partially) over an older man.

Smsarian and Eshimbaeva, who both participate in the school's ROTC program, used to be close friends—Eshimaeva even attended Smsarian's Sweet 16 party. But the two had a falling out—Eshimbaeva's mother told the News it was fueled by jealousy, but other reports indicate that Smsarian was angry at Eshimbaeva for stealing her 22-year-old Staten Island boyfriend, which Eshimbaeva denied.

Eshimbaeva told reporters that she had a bad feeling something was going to happen the day of the attack: "[Smsarian] was standing against a wall staring at me in an evil way. She was smiling, but it was evil. I knew something bad was coming, but didn't know what it was. Two seconds later, I felt the liquid falling down my bangs." Eshimbaeva was rushed to Staten Island University Hospital, where she was treated and released from the burn unit. "My whole face was burning. I thought I was blind. I couldn't see anything," she told the News. Doctors who treated Eshimbaeva said the teen, who was in her ROTC uniform at the time, only avoided losing her sight because the diluted solution was just 10 percent acid, and she won't have any scarring.

According to the criminal complaint, Smsarian admitted to police she had poured the acid onto Eshimbaeva “and was trying to burn Eshimbaeva’s eyes out." She also allegedly said she deserved what she got. Smsarian has been charged with first degree attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon, possession of noxious material and harassment. Another classmate of theirs told the Post, "Zhanna was always flipping out over little stuff."

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By Ben Yakas in News on March 11, 2011 11:03 AM

Comments [rss]

Finding Face

The petty drama between these high schoolers escalated to a type of violence that is rampant all over the world. Acid violence is regularly occurring in the United States, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Hong Kong, India, Afghanistan and the UK. It usually occurs because of disputes between women.

I will argue here that this high school attack was a copy cat attack -the notion to throw acid had to have come from some type of media coverage about the issue. In Cambodia in 1999, a 16-year-old girl named Tat Marina became involved with the country's Undersecretary of State, whose jealous wife threw acid on Marina's face. Though the attack was widely publicized, the high profile politician's wife was never committed for her crime. The next year, the reported number of acid attacks in Cambodia rose from 7 to 40.

To learn more about this case and acid attacks worldwide, visit www.findingface.org or follow @FindingFace on Twitter.

Bula Kava House

The petty drama between these high schoolers escalated to a type of violence that is rampant all over the world. Acid violence is regularly occurring in the United States, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Hong Kong, India, Afghanistan and the UK. It usually occurs because of disputes between women.

I will argue here that this high school attack was a copy cat attack -the notion to throw acid had to have come from some type of media coverage about the issue. In Cambodia in 1999, a 16-year-old girl named Tat Marina became involved with the country's Undersecretary of State, whose jealous wife threw acid on Marina's face. Though the attack was widely publicized, the high profile politician's wife was never committed for her crime. The next year, the reported number of acid attacks in Cambodia rose from 7 to 40.

To learn more about this case and acid attacks worldwide, visit www.findingface.org or follow @FindingFace on Twitter.

Destiny Rosario

and when i say i know the girl i mean Albina Eshimbaeva shes a friend of myn

Destiny Rosario

that is a big lie becuse daily news always exaggera i know the girl and i have class with her. it was not over a 22 year old, that is all a lie so that daily news gets peoples attention

scallywag

10 percent acid, 100 percent malice. The dreadful things that go on when people don’t see eye to eye…

http://scallywagandvagabond.co...

hi_mom

I'll follow your spammed link, but only if you promise more of those puns on the other side

robingee

Can someone please get Zhanna Smsarian some psychiatric help and counseling before she ends up stabbing someone over a chicken sandwich or something?

Guest

yeah, but a tasty chicken sandwich is sooo worth it! men on the other hand...

robingee

Yes, it depends on the sandwich.

schmeep

I thought acid fueled the acid-pouring attack. When you pour bad blood on someone, it smells kinda funny, but doesn't really do any eye damage.

Bridget H.

Why are high school kids working with diluted acid? I know science class involves learning about acids and bases but if you can physically hurt someone with it, why would they put it in a hs classroom?

69GeorgeWBush69

The acids and bases kids in high school get to work with are about as strong as the vinegar in your pantry. A pencil is probably more dangerous.

Harlem Rat

For a lot of disinterested students, the danger-factor brings an entire new fascination with science. I could look at formulas on acid/bases all day long but until I had a little danger in my hands, it was boring old theory.

nicemarmot

Yes, clearly absolute safety in schools is more important than the learning. Except that to achieve absolute safety, you'd have to remove one key thing - the students.

hi_mom

Because if you took everything out of classrooms that could be used as a weapon they would be empty.

Guest

Smsarian is female? Yikes!

Samantha_Ga

Okay, now can we also go after this 22 year old creep who's dating 15/16 year olds? Glad the girl wasn't scarred/blinded. Very, very sad.