According to authorities, seven Georgia youngsters, some as young as five, were arrested for allegedly beating a 7-year-old classmate on a bus journey to school early this morning.
The alleged attackers, aged 5 to 14, were charged with battery for the brutal beating that occurred on April 18 while their bus was en route to Mattie Lively Elementary School in Statesboro, the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.
Police claimed they were told of the terrible assault about a week later and identified the troublesome pupils after analyzing the transport’s surveillance footage, which showed the unruly gang teaming together to attack the little youngster, according to WSAV.
“One child came over the seat and basically used his feet to stomp on this 7-year-old,” Captain Todd Hutchens told the site, describing it as a “violent attack.”
“Five-year-olds understand right from wrong. They are responsible exactly like adults and 14-year-olds. They know better than to start jumping on a child and hitting him or her with a hand, a fist, a book, or other objects.”
The incident resulted in only minor bruises for the student, according to WTOC.
Joey Edwin Jackson, 70, the bus driver, was also arrested after police determined he did not stop the violent rampage, pull the bus over, or report the event to the school administration.
“The bus driver did not pull over,” Hutchens stated, according to the source.
“The bus driver did not call the bus garage and say, ‘Hey, I have an incident on the bus; please send help.'” He continued driving to the school.
Jackson was charged with second-degree cruelty to minors and refusal to report child abuse, according to police. He was also sacked from his post.
He was detained at Bulloch County Jail on April 30 and released the next day after posting a $15,000 bond, jail records show.
Police reported that the seven disruptive students had also been suspended from their respective institutions.
Their cases will be heard in juvenile court.
“It is not going to be tolerated in Bulloch County Schools,” said Superintendent Charles Wilson.
“One thing we know is, we owe it to everyone in the community that when your child comes to school, your child is going to be in a safe environment where they can be treated well and learn.”
