Ten middle school students have been arrested for their involvement in a violent assault on a classmate in Coney Island. The incident, which was captured on video and shared on social media, shows the victim being repeatedly punched, slapped, kicked, and even hit with a sneaker by a group of kids on an MTA shuttle bus. Shockingly, there were no adults present to intervene. The assault lasted for several minutes as the attackers moved from the back to the front of the bus.
The victim, an eighth-grader at Mark Twain IS 239 for the Gifted and Talented, can be heard screaming in pain throughout the ordeal. Some students filmed the attack on their phones, while others stood on seats and hung from railings. The lack of adult supervision is concerning and raises questions about the safety of students on school buses.
Police took over two classrooms at Mark Twain to investigate the incident and make arrests. Photos and videos shared on social media show the accused perpetrators being handcuffed and taken away in a police van. Disturbingly, one student posted an image on Snapchat with a caption stating that the victim deserved the beating and should have died. Ten juvenile reports were prepared by the police.
This is not the first incident of violence at Mark Twain IS 239. In October, an 11-year-old girl was brutally attacked outside the school and has since been tormented by bullies. Her parents expressed outrage that her bully was only briefly suspended while they recommended a safety transfer for their daughter. The girl’s bully was also involved in the bus assault.
Parents have raised concerns about a toxic and competitive environment at Mark Twain, where bullying goes unpunished. They believe that the desire to protect the school’s reputation contributes to the problem. The NYC School Safety Coalition called for safe corridors and police officers on buses to prevent such incidents from happening.
These recent incidents highlight the need for increased safety measures in schools. Just a week before the bus assault, two students were stabbed at Martin Van Buren High School in Queens Village. One of the victims was found to be in possession of a gun. It is crucial to prioritize the safety and well-being of students to ensure a conducive learning environment.