Principal punched after asking student to remove headphones: Police

A high school principal in lower Manhattan was attacked Monday after asking a student to turn down his headphones, police said.

Luis Penzo, 18, was walking through the halls of the Manhattan Early College School for Advertising (MECA) when its principal,Matthew Tossman, asked him to lower and remove his headphones, police said.

Following the request, Penzo began punching Tossman in the head, police said. The principal was taken to Lower Manhattan Hospital after the altercation and later released.

Penzo was charged second-degree assault.

“The safety and security of students and staff is our top priority, and we are looking into it,” the Department of Education said in a statement about the incident.

MECAisis housed in Murry Bergtraum High School on Pearl Street.