DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Police in Georgia said a group of teens stormed a school bus Monday and attacked elementary school children. It was so serious that one child was taken to the hospital, officials said.
It happened on a school bus on Hollyhock Terrace, just about 1 mile from Snapfinger Elementary School in DeKalb County.
Parents told WSB-TV's Tom Regan that they are stunned. They told him they didn't get word of the vicious bus assault until they were in line to pick their kids up.
“That is outrageous,” said parent Alexis Clarke.
The parents are speaking after learning children came under attack by four older students.
School officials said they climbed onto the bus when it made a stop this morning.
Monday afternoon, the school sent a voice mail message to parents that said in part: “During the morning ride to school, a group of middle and high school student boarded the bus to assault an elementary school student.”
School officials told WSB-TV that several students were attacked and one was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta hospital.
Police arrested an 18-year-old non-student, a high school student and two middle school students on assault charges.
“This is my kid's second week at school. This is ridiculous. This is why I don't have my kids on the bus; I drive them to school, and I drive them back home,” said parent Latrice Lewis.
“I think that's really bad, and if they did beat up some elementary school students, they definitely deserve to go to jail,” Clarke said.
School officials released the following statement:
"The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. On Nov. 18, an incident occurred on a school bus on Hollyhock Terrace involving Snapfinger Elementary students. Two middle school students, one high school student, and an 18-year-old non-student attacked elementary students, which resulted in one elementary student being transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA).
"DeKalb County School District Police responded immediately, investigated and obtained warrants for the high school student and the 18-year-old non-student. Two middle schools students were arrested and taken to Juvenile Intake."