Georgia School bus driver, 7 children charged after student allegedly violently attacked

A Georgia school bus driver and seven children have been charged after authorities say a 7-year-old elementary school student was violently attacked during a morning bus ride.

According to the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, the school resource officer assigned to William James Middle School received a report April 23 of an attack on a child during the morning bus route the Friday before. Following the report, a criminal investigation into the incident was initiated.

Details from the investigation revealed that seven students, ages 5 to 14, physically attacked a 7-year-old student during the bus ride to Mattie Lively Elementary School. The attack occurred the morning of April 18 while the bus was traveling on Highway 301 North.

“One child came over the seat and basically used his feet to stomp on this 7-year-old,” said Capt. Todd Hutchens with BCSO. “So, it was a pretty violent attack, which led us to naturally be very concerned for the well-being and protection of this 7-year-old, as well as other children on this bus.”

The school nurse said the 7-year-old had multiple injuries, including heavy bruising.

Video footage from the bus shows the seven students involved in the attack, according to BCSO. They have since been identified and are facing battery charges. All of the students involved have also been suspended from school.

The bus driver, 70-year-old Joey Edwin Jackson, was also charged following the investigation. He faces charges of cruelty to children in the second degree and failure to report child abuse.

“The bus driver did not pull over. The bus driver did not call the bus garage to say, ‘Hey, I’ve got an incident on the bus. Please send help.’ He continued to drive to the school,” Hutchens said.

Bulloch County Schools Superintendent Charles Wilson says that Jackson no longer works for the district for not following protocol as a mandatory reporter. He had been an employee of the district since October 2023.

Following the incident, Wilson says the district will continue to enforce its zero-bullying policy.

“It’s not going to be tolerated in Bulloch County Schools,” Wilson said. “One thing we know is we owe it to everyone in this community that when your child comes to school, your child is going to be in a safe environment where they can be treated well and learn.” 

Wilson says the 7-year-old victim has been back at school since the attack. He says the district cannot publicly disclose consequences the seven students charged face, but they are working within the guidelines of the school code of conduct.

Sgt. Bubba Revell of the BCSO SRO division actively assisted in the investigation and maintained communication with administrators and officials from the Bulloch County Board of Education and the schools involved.

The school district released the following statement regarding the incident:

A group of seven Bulloch County elementary and middle school students physically attacked a young elementary school student on Friday, April 18.

The students were riding on a Bulloch County Schools bus during its morning route. The incident remains under active investigation.

The Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office has arrested and charged the seven students in connection with this incident. While federal privacy laws prevent the school district from disclosing specific information about how students are disciplined in the school setting, please know that district leaders are working closely with law enforcement and taking all appropriate steps in accordance with district policies.

In addition, on April 30, the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged a school district employee, the bus driver, in connection with this incident. The bus driver was charged with second-degree cruelty to children and failure to make a report. Effective April 25, the bus driver is no longer employed by the Bulloch County Board of Education. Bus drivers are classified staff and do not fall under the same employee appeal procedures as certified personnel. 

Regardless of their role, all Bulloch County Schools employees are expected to uphold the highest standards for student safety and conduct.

School buses and bus stops are extensions of the classroom. For this reason students are expected to behave and follow all school and bus rules and the district’s Student Code of Conduct while they use bus transportation services. Bulloch County Schools encourages all parents and students (as they are able) to read and have a good understanding of the school district’s expectations for good behavior at school. Violations of the Code of Conduct can result in disciplinary action, including the possibility of expulsion with or without the option of attending the school district’s alternative learning program.