Mother of teen beaten at bus stop seeks justice

A teenager was bloodied and beaten moments after getting off a school bus in Fort Myers. A recording of the incident shows other people punching a girl in the face and kicking her in the head. She is also seen being dragged by her hair down a sidewalk. The Lee County school district said the girl’s safety isn’t their responsibility.

The school district told WINK News, a child is only its responsibility from the moment he or she walks on the school bus until they step off the bus at the end of the day. Then, it’s parent responsibility.

“I can’t sleep at night seeing the video of these people, and these people around,” said Khalelah Snell, whose daughter is recorded being attacked. “Nobody is breaking it up. My daughter is crying for help. You can see her in the video crying saying ‘somebody break it up.’”

Snell wishes someone was there to protect her daughter.

“It’s heartbreaking to see your 15-year-old child on the ground being stumped like that, crying for help, and nobody is breaking it up,” Snell said.

Snell said she will do everything in her power to prevent  her daughter’s experience from happening again.

“I called the police,” Snell said. “I made a police report. “I went downtown today to get a restraining order.”

The mother of the two girls who allegedly initiated the fight said it happened over a boy and name calling.

“Violence is not the answer,” said. “I had no idea about the incidents that occurred until after the fight.”

The school district said the fight took place after the driver left, so the driver did not witness it; therefore, the driver could not report it.

Now, it’s a police matter. Snell hopes the legal system will help her daughter.

“Charges are going to be pressed,” Snell said. “And I’m going to press them, and my daughter is going to be going to every court date.”

Snell said her daughter will be OK. She also said she will meet with the school board tomorrow to see what else can be done.