Video captures Tyler nurse repeatedly abusing child

SMITH COUNTY — According to our news partner KETK, a nurse in Tyler was arrested after being caught on video physically abusing a child with special needs while being responsible for watching her. The Tyler Police Department became aware of the alleged abuse when the victim’s grandparents reported that one of their live-in nurses, Gabrielle Toon, was seen on video smacking their 14-year-old granddaughter and aggressively pushing her. Toon was responsible for watching the child during the evenings from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m.

The victim’s grandparents provided a list of the child’s medical condition to officials, stating that she is immobile, non-verbal and is dependent on oxygen at night. It was also reported that the victim has a chronic lung disease and is a kidney transplant recipient.

On July 7, officials received a video that allegedly depicted Toon physically abusing the victim on July 1. During the video, Toon was seen in what appeared to be a hospital bed with the victim physically harming her and slapping her multiple times.

“Toon uses an open hand to slap [the victim] on the left side of [her] face,” The affidavit said. “The slap is hard enough to be heard on the camera. Toon says ‘stop’ after slapping [the victim.] The slap was done with enough force that [the victim] instinctively raised her left arm in reaction.”

Further video showed Toon aggressively pushing the victim’s head onto a pillow while demanding that she go to sleep. After watching the video, officials contacted Toon’s employment agency, and they were able to confirm that it was her in the video.

Following an investigation, Toon was arrested on Monday and charged with injury to a child for intentionally and knowingly causing bodily injury to the victim. Toon is currently being held in the Smith County Jail.