Intruder boards school bus, brutally beats and stomps driver as kids watch, NC cops say
A 47-year-old bus driver in North Carolina had the wherewithal to keep her foot on the brake as an assailant punched her repeatedly, police said.
Now they’re searching for her attacker.
The driver stopped to pick up students along her morning route Tuesday in Laurinburg — roughly 80 miles southeast of Charlotte — when 46-year-old Kenneth Latrel Revels boarded the bus unexpectedly, the Laurinburg Police Department said in a news release.
Revels, who is the driver’s ex-boyfriend, began punching her repeatedly on the head and neck, police said. There were between 15 and 20 kids on board at the time.
“The victim fell to the floor of the bus and Revels began stomping the victim in the head,” the release states. “During the assault, the victim struggled to constantly keep her foot on the brake of the bus, thus preventing the bus from moving uncontrollably.”
Revels reportedly fled on foot.
The driver, who is not named, works for Scotland County Schools.
A spokesperson for the district told McClatchy News it was an “isolated incident” and no students on the bus were injured.
“Laurinburg Police quickly responded and the parents of the students were immediately notified,” the district said. “The safety of our students and staff is always our top priority and we thank the Laurinburg Police for their diligence during this ongoing investigation.
Police have charged Revels with violating a domestic violence protection order, assault on a female, assault on a school employee, disorderly conduct on a school bus, entering a school bus unlawfully, breaking or entering a motor vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and assault with a deadly weapon in the presence of minors.
“The manner in which Revels used his hands and feet are considered to be deadly weapons in this incident,” police said.
Anyone with information as to Revels’ location should call the Laurinburg Police Department at 910-276-3211 or the Scotland County Emergency Operations Center at 910-277-3231.
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 4:41 PM.
