A 15-year-old teenager was attacked by two classmates while riding a school bus in Broward County, Florida. The incident was recorded on video by other students and has raised concerns among parents, school officials, and the victim's family. The minor had recently arrived from Guatemala.
The attack
The incident occurred on Thursday, May 8, when the minor, a seventh-grade student at Driftwood Middle School in Hollywood, was assaulted by two teenagers. In the videos recorded on cell phones by other students, one of the attackers is seen slapping him with an open hand, while another delivers several blows to his body.
The young man did not defend himself and merely tried to protect himself as best he could, while other students watched and recorded the assault without intervening. The bus driver stopped and notified the Davie police, who handled the case. Paramedics examined the minor on site and handed him over to his mother.
Deysi González, the mother of the teenager, stated that her son is emotionally affected and that he did nothing to provoke the attackers. "I haven't been able to sleep; I have that moment recorded, how he receives the first blow, and he didn't do anything to them", she told local media. She also expressed her concern about the fact that no one intervened during the attack.
González reported that his son arrived in the United States in December of last year and started school in January. Currently, he doesn’t speak English, which made it difficult for him to understand what the assailants were saying.
In light of the situation, the mother turned to attorney Maribel Piza, who is assisting with the case. “She is proceeding with the criminal charges,” the attorney said, noting that they hope the prosecutor's office will review the video. She is also aiming to raise awareness among other parents about the violence on school buses.
The teenager suffered from a nosebleed, bruises, and later developed a concussion. His mother confirmed that he returned to school the following Monday.
The Broward County Public Schools reported that it was a "ongoing dispute" and that the two students responsible for the incident received disciplinary measures in accordance with the District's Student Code of Conduct.
For its part, the Davie police reported that one of the students involved stated that the other was constantly bothering him by touching his neck and shoulders. He asked him to stop, and when he didn’t, he slapped him. The assault was met with the same response, according to the police report.
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