Seven youths charged with beating girl on school bus
Seven juveniles — five girls and two boys ranging in ages 12 through 15 — beat a 13-year-old girl so badly she was left unconscious and had to be taken to a hospital Friday morning while on the school bus on their way to school, according to Sheriff’s Office reports.
The names of the defendants are not being released by the Star-Banner. All eight juveniles, including the victim, attend Liberty Middle School in Marion Oaks.
Deputies said the incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. on the way to school, and that there were approximately 74 children on the bus.
Deputies were dispatched to Marion Oaks Elementary School after receiving a report about a fight on a school bus.
The bus driver told deputies he was driving down the street when he saw an altercation on the bus and stopped. The driver said when the bus stopped, the fighting also stopped, so he continued.
While driving, the driver said the fight started again, so he stopped the bus. This time, he said the fight did not stop, so he drove to the elementary school and called school officials, who called deputies.
The victim, a 13-year-old girl who has not been identified by law enforcement officials, was taken to a local hospital, where it was determined she had suffered a concussion, severe bruising on her head and muscle spasms.
At the hospital, Deputy Larry McArdle interviewed the victim, who told McArdle
it was her first day riding the school bus and none of the children would allow her to sit down.
The teenager said someone threw a shoe at her, and she threw the shoe back. Then, the teen said, she was attacked by several people she did not know.
Based on interviews conducted by deputies, the shoe did not hit the victim. And when the victim threw the shoe back, one person alleges it struck a student.
At the scene, several witnesses told Deputy Pamela Race that when the victim fell down, she appeared to have seizures and passed out.
Another group of students told the same deputy they saw multiple individuals hitting the girl.
One of those arrested, a 13-year-old girl, admitted to throwing the shoe at the victim but denied hitting her.
A 14-year-old girl claimed the victim was arguing with several of them, including her, and that one of the girls reportedly asked the group who wanted to hit the victim. Then, the girl said, the group surrounded the victim and she kicked the victim, but she claims that the kick making contact with the victim was an accident.
A few of the defendants admitted to hitting the girl, while a couple either denied striking the victim or declined comment.
One 14-year-old girl said she punched the victim in the head 10 to 15 times because the girl allegedly called her a name.
Deputy Shannon Wiles, who wrote the arrest reports, noted the defendant said she climbed over four seats and several students to get to the victim.
All seven individuals were arrested by deputies and charged with felony battery and disorderly conduct. They were transported to the Sheriff’s Office juvenile facility, where they were processed.
Marion County Public Schools spokesperson Kevin Christian said the normal procedure calls for expulsion or reassignment to another school, with the final outcome being made by the school board.
As for whether or not the accused students will return to their school, Christian said it’s highly unlikely they will be allowed on campus until their legal issues are resolved.
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Originally Posted by crimsonsorrow
Seven Kids Charged With Beating 13-Year-Old Girl On Florida School Bus
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