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Three Masked Teens Board School Bus, Assault Student Leading To Violent Altercation

Phyllis Coley @phyllis_coley

ENFIELD, NC – Chaos erupted on a Halifax County school bus Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 15) when three masked teenagers boarded the vehicle and attacked a student, leading to a violent altercation. Authorities are now searching for the suspects, who managed to flee the scene before police arrived.

The incident occurred around 4 p.m. at a bus stop near the intersection of South McDaniel Street and East Alsop Street. Enfield Police responded to the scene after a concerned parent called 911, reporting the altercation involving masked individuals. According to Captain Eric Johnson of the Enfield Police Department, the bus was transporting students from Southeast Halifax High School.

Johnson stated that the bus driver had pulled over to discharge a student when three teenagers, dressed in ski masks and hooded sweatshirts, forced their way onto the bus. “The bus driver verbally tried to keep the students from getting on the bus,” Johnson said, but the suspects ignored the driver’s attempts to stop them.

Once onboard, a confrontation ensued between one of the suspects and a student, escalating into a physical fight. During the altercation, the student was cut in the face, leaving other students on the bus in shock. According to police, there were between 20 and 30 students on the bus at the time of the incident.

“The student that was on the bus had some type of issue with one of the three suspects that got on the bus,” Captain Johnson explained, suggesting the possibility of a pre-existing conflict between the individuals. After the fight, the suspects quickly fled the scene before officers arrived.

The Enfield Police Department is currently investigating the assault, and authorities are working to identify the suspects. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Enfield Police Department or Halifax County Crime Stoppers.

This incident has raised concerns among parents and school officials about student safety, particularly as authorities work to ensure the well-being of students during their commute.