USC professor attacked by student with metal water bottle, police say

A University of Southern California professor was taken to the hospital Monday after police said a student hit her in the head with a metal water bottle.

In “what appeared to be an unprovoked attack,” the student entered a classroom in Dauterive Hall, a social sciences building, and walked up to the professor and punched her in the head, according to David Carlisle, the university’s deputy chief of public safety.

Authorities were called to the scene around 11 a.m. after several calls about the incident. Carlisle said he wasn’t sure if a class was in session, but several other students were in the room.

Los Angeles firefighters rushed the professor, whose identity has not been released by USC officials, to a hospital for treatment. The extent of her injuries was still unknown Tuesday morning.

The student, who was also not immediately identified, was arrested and booked by Los Angeles police on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.