Two Columbia middle school students assaulted on bus; suspect detained

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two Columbia Public Schools middle school students were assaulted Tuesday morning on their bus, according to a letter sent to families, and police say a juvenile was taken into custody.

Lange Middle School administrators were notified that two students were attacked on bus No. 228 at about 7 a.m., according to the letter sent to families of students who ride the bus. The attacker was not a student and forced his way onto the bus at a bus stop, the letter says.

The bus driver removed the assailant, the letter says. The students who were assaulted were provided unspecified "assistance" and no other students were hurt, according to the letter.

CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark said the attack was not random -- the assailant targeted those particular students.

On Tuesday afternoon, Abc 17  went to the bus stop to try to talk to neighbors but ended up speaking to a teen who claimed he was the one involved in the incident. The teen said he was just trying to stick up for his sister who was allegedly being bullied on the school bus. 

School officials are working with police investigators, according to the letter.

Police were sent to Sherwood Drive and Brown Station Road to investigate the assault, a Columbia Police Department spokeswoman said.

The department said in a news release that it took a juvenile suspect into custody on suspicion of child endangerment and assault. They found the suspect near the scene of the assault a few hours after the call, according to the release.

Juvenile justice officials released the boy to his parents, police said.

Check back for more information on this developing story.