RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) – Six middle school students have been arrested and charged for the assault of a school bus driver that happened Tuesday.
Each student was charged with aggravated assault and assault by mob, police said. Both charges are felonies.
Police were called to Idlewood and Sheppard Streets Tuesday morning to investigate “an altercation that occurred on a Richmond Public Schools bus where the bus driver was assaulted,” Richmond Police spokeswoman Dionne Waugh wrote in an email.
Schools spokeswoman Felicia Cosby said that the Albert Hill Middle School bus driver suffered facial injuries and was taken to the hospital for observation.
Police said that at approximately 7:35 a.m., the students assaulted the 55-year-old male bus driver, who stopped to contact authorities.
On Wednesday Cosby issued a statement that seven students were suspended, “pending a disciplinary panel review in response to yesterday’s incident on bus number 24, en route to Albert Hill Middle School.”
“Once again, the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain one of the district’s primary goals. Because this matter is still under investigation, we are limited in providing greater details,” Cosby said.
No students were injured.
In a message sent to Albert Hill Middle School parents, the school system asked they speak with their children about school bus behavior.
“To ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff while en route to and from school, we ask that students remain in their seats, refrain from throwing objects, and speak quietly during the bus ride. Thank you for your assistance as we continue to look into this matter,” the message read.
