News crew attacked in Providence R.I. while reporting story

News crew attacked: WLNE-TV reports that its cameraman and reporter were trying to speak with Melissa Lawrence, the mother of a victim, Tuesday after a teenage boy turned himself in to police.

June 6, 2013

A Rhode Island woman has been charged with assault after she threw a rock, waved a baseball bat and urged her dogs to attack a news crew reporting on a kindergarten graduation party shooting.

WLNE-TV reports that its cameraman and reporter were trying to speak with Melissa Lawrence, the mother of a victim, Tuesday after a teenage boy turned himself in to police.

Video shows Lawrence throwing a rock at them, wielding a bat, screaming "Get away from me," and directing her two pit bulls to attack. The dogs then bite reporter Abbey Niezgoda (niz-GOH'-dah) on her forearm.

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WLNE says Niezgoda received a tetanus shot.

The Providence Journal reports Lawrence was released on personal recognizance Wednesday after not guilty pleas were entered on her behalf.