Middle schooler charged with assault after school bus skirmish

A Concord School District bus was stopped outside the State Prison on North State Street on Friday while police investigated an incident inside.

A Concord School District bus was stopped outside the State Prison on North State Street on Friday while police investigated an incident inside. Geoff Forester—Monitor staff

By CATHERINE McLAUGHLIN

Monitor staff

Published: 05-21-2024 3:42 PM

One Concord middle schooler is facing juvenile charges after hitting another student on a bus Friday afternoon, Concord police said. 

A verbal altercation escalated when one student punched another who had been “name-calling,” according to Deputy Police Chief John Thomas. That student was charged with disorderly conduct and assault and the other was taken into protective custody. Both are 13 years old.  

When the fight broke out, the driver pulled over the bus and called police, Superintendent Kathleen Murphy said. Students were evacuated from the vehicle, many of whom called and were picked up by their parents. The bus later completed its route with the remaining students. She noted that all district school buses are equipped with cameras. 

The incident does not reflect a rise in bad behavior on district school buses, according to Murphy.

“There are occasions where kids make a bad choice while on a school bus,” she said. “But I don’t see an increase in misconduct on our buses.”

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

‘What the hell is going on?”: Chichester votes to defund entire town administrative office, but may reconsider
‘Voting our wallets’: Loudon residents vote overwhelmingly against $1.7M bond for new fire truck
Boys’ hockey: Concord takes championship in historic quadruple overtime victory over BG, 2-1
Man dies in mechanical accident with dump truck in Bow
Letter: End New Hampshire vehicle inspections
Hopkinton voters call for action on ‘inadequate’ state funding for public education