Belleville police are investigating the alleged beating of a 17-year-old boy on a school bus Monday morning. (There’s nothing “alleged” about this incident. See video. — Ed)
Police received a complaint of a battery that happened on a bus onthe way to Belleville West High School. Police said the white malestudent was beaten by two black male students. Video of the beating wascaptured on the bus video camera.
Investigators said that the victim was attempting to find a seat onthe bus and was told by two students he could not sit down next tothem. When he did sit down, one suspect attempted to push him out ofhis seat then began punching him in the face and choking him.
Police said the victim again sat down in his seat and after a fewminutes of another student taunting him verbally, the second suspectwalked over to the victim and began striking him in the face. One ofthe alleged attackers is 14 and the other 15.
“It’s just a sad, sad state I mean what are our kids learning thatthey behave like this,” said Belleville Police Captain Donald Sax.
Belleville police believe the fight may have been raciallymotivated. “We certainly believe by looking at the video that race hadsome factor in it.. yes,” said Sax.
Belleville West’s Superintendent said that any student found to beinvolved will be punished to the greatest extent possible by thedistrict. School officials are looking into how much of the attack thebus driver witnessed.
Both of the suspects are juveniles and will be petitioned through the court for battery charges on Tuesday.