Of course this is a terrible situation.
But only in America is it the VICTIMS fault for responding to a situation. No one stopped and asked that girl why her first response his violence and attacking. Let me ask you honestly, what is he as a person, not even a male in charge, supposed to do if that little girl just started jumping on him and hitting him without relenting? Sure, in a perfect world, he would not have to respond like that, but in a perfect world, that young lady would never even think about attacking an adult in charge.
No matter what he did, besides curling into a ball and letting this girl go ham on him until help arrived, would get the approval of you white knights.
Stop with all this women should never be hit, ya? Lets take it a step further and say people should not be hitting each other.
Someone attacking you is someone attacking you, if he just sat that and let her beat on him, dude could end up with a missing eyeball or paralyzed.
If someone is attacking me, im fighting back. Men shouldnt be hitting women, and women shouldnt be hitting men.
Its that simple.