Teen Arrested After Brutal School Bus Beating Broadcast On Facebook

A 16-year-old Stevenson High School student was arrested Tuesday and another faces further disciplinary action related to a violent attack on a school bus which was captured on film and posted to the internet. Video of the beating was quickly shared widely on social media, despite an attempt by school officials to have it taken down by Facebook, school officials say.

The video shows a girl throw a water bottle at another girl, identified as a 15-year-old fellow Stevenson student, as she enters the bus before attacking her from behind, punching and kicking her while repeatedly yelling at the victim to "say you're sorry." The video, apparently filmed by an accomplice, shows no one intervened to stop the beating for more than 20 seconds before the bus driver and another student interrupt the attack.

Lincolnshire Police opened an investigation into the incident, reviewed the video, and arrested one student on charges of aggravated battery. The investigation continues, and police would not rule out further charges in connection with the attack.

"Quite frankly, the only reason this is getting any attention is because it was captured on video," said Stevenson High School spokesman Jim Conrey, but he says administrators "would have addressed any fight on the school bus the same way." He said school employees quickly asked Facebook to remove it. The original posting was removed, but "somebody had been able to capture it and embed it and keep it circulating."

The victim, the attacker and the accomplice did not attend school on Tuesday, Conrey said. Both the attacker and accomplice are facing serious disciplinary consequences, but he was not able to describe them for legal reasons. The beating "was an isolated incident that was clearly a premeditated act, it was not a random act," he said, and other students are under no increased danger.

School officials told the Lincolnshire Review it attack was apparently planned for the purpose of sharing the video on social media. Police said they received varied responses on the reasons behind the attack, according to the Lincolnshire Review.

Lincolnshire Police said in a statement the case has been referred to the Depke Juvenile Justice Complex.