HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — A disturbing incident aboard a Broward County school bus, where a 15-year-old student suffered an assault by two classmates, has ignited serious concerns among parents and school officials. The victim, who recently immigrated from Guatemala, was targeted while riding the bus to Driftwood Middle School, and the altercation was recorded by fellow students.
The confrontation unfolded on May 8 when the victim, a seventh-grader, was attacked by two peers. Videos circulating on social media depict one student delivering a slap, while another follows up with a flurry of punches. During the assault, the victim, visibly distressed, made no attempt to fight back; rather, he sought to shield himself from the blows as bystanders recorded the event without intervening.
After the bus driver notified law enforcement, Davie police responded to the scene, where paramedics assessed the teenager’s injuries before he was released into his mother’s care. Deysi González, the boy’s mother, expressed her profound heartbreak over the incident, stating that her son was emotionally shaken and had done nothing to provoke the aggression. “I can’t sleep. I replay that moment in my head when he received the first hit,” she shared, highlighting her concern about the lack of intervention from other students.
González revealed that her son arrived in the United States in December and began classes in January. His limited proficiency in English further complicated his ability to understand the taunts from his attackers. As a result of the incident, the teenager sustained a concussion, along with visible bruising and nosebleeds, but he returned to school the following Monday.
In light of the assault, González has sought legal representation from attorney Maribel Piza, who is assisting the family in pursuing criminal charges. Piza indicated that they are working to ensure that the case receives thorough attention and urged other parents to be vigilant about violence on school buses.
Broward County Public Schools responded to the incident, labeling it as part of an ongoing dispute between the students. The district confirmed that disciplinary actions have been taken against the two students in accordance with its Student Code of Conduct.
According to a police report, one of the attackers claimed that he had been persistently bothered by the victim, alleging that the teen was touching his neck and shoulders. When his requests to stop went unheeded, he retaliated by slapping the boy, leading to a cycle of aggression that escalated into physical violence.
As the investigation continues, it emphasizes the urgent need for discussions around bullying and student safety in schools, as well as the role of bystanders in such situations. The family’s hope is that this brutal incident will spark necessary conversations among parents, educators, and students about the prevention of violence within educational environments.