Parents in Michigan are terrified over horrifying footage of a fifth-grade girl beating a six-year-old boy and leaving another injured while on a school bus.
The cellphone-shot footage shows the fifth grader throwing punches on the younger student from Ballard Elementary School during the afternoon route home on a Niles School Bus on March 4.
The unidentified students can first be heard arguing, screaming expletives and calling each other names.
Their argument is said to have begun after the boy tried to knock the girl's phone out of her hands.
The situation soon escalates when the young girl gets out of her seat and starts punching the boy over his head.
The cellphone-shot footage shows the fifth grader throwing punches on the younger student during the afternoon route home on a Niles School Bus on March 4
The unidentified students can first be heard arguing, screaming expletives and calling each other names. The situation soon escalates when the young girl gets out of her seat and starts punching the boy over his head
The students were from Ballard Elementary School
A female student can be heard laughing as the red-jacket wearing girl assaults the boy and informs her that her butt is in the camera.
The female student then tries to take a jab at the young boy and asks: 'You mad cause you got beat up?'
At one point in the video, the boy can be heard yelling at his assaulter to stop, but quickly returns to hurling f-bombs at his assailant.
The red-jacket wearing girl is then seen once again attacking the boy as the video recorder laughs in the background.
Since the video has gone viral, parents have been concerned for their children’s safety and some have even alleged that other children have reported altercations with the young girl as well.
At one point in the video, the boy can be heard yelling stop against his assaulter
Since the video has gone viral, parents have been concerned for their children’s safety and some have even alleged that other children have had altercations with the young girl as well
Many parents have also been wondering why there was no bus assistant present or any other adult who could have intervened.
Brittany Ottinger, whose son was next to the male student who was hit told WNDU: 'There was a little girl and a little boy fighting in his seat, and my son’s head got pushed up against the window.
'He was terrified to go back to school, so I had to encourage him to go back to school.'
She also told the channel that due to the fighting, her son ended up with a bruised eye despite not being involved.
Niles community schools superintendent Daniel Applegate has since then released a lengthy statement and clarified that there was no assistant on the bus.
'Since the incident occurred, our district has been in continuous cooperation with the local police department to ensure a thorough investigation is conducted. Concurrently, we have been diligently following our district's disciplinary procedures to address this matter appropriately.
Niles community schools superintendent Daniel Applegate has since then released a lengthy statement and clarified that there was no assistant on the bus
The Niles Police Department has also launched an investigation into the incident. It is unclear what potential action the school is considering
'To that end, this Tuesday, our Code of Conduct committee will convene to review this incident, the disciplinary procedures that have already been implemented, including removal from the bus and school, in detail and provide a recommendation to the Board for their consideration.
'It is important to clarify that safety protocols require the bus driver to pull over as soon as it is safely possible to intervene.
'No assistant was on the bus to assist the bus driver. Immediate and abrupt stopping of the bus is not always feasible due to protocols and regulations designed to ensure the safety of all students on board. These guidelines are in place to prevent putting other students at risk of harm.
'In response to the incident, I want to assure you that immediate actions were taken even before the student video was posted online. These actions included collaboration with the local police department and the initiation of our disciplinary process.
'Our buses are equipped with video cameras, which have been instrumental in our review of the situation.'
The Niles Police Department has also launched an investigation into the incident. It is unclear what potential action the school is considering.
