JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The chief of police for Duval County Public Schools addressed parents’ concerns Friday morning following the stabbing of a middle school student on a school bus in the Grand Park area.
Police Chief Jackson Short joined The Morning Show a day after a Matthew Gilbert Middle School student was transported to a hospital after another student stabbed her while riding Bus 268.
Short said the female students, both 14-year-olds, were involved in an altercation on the school bus before the stabbing. He said that, in addition to the bus driver, another adult was monitoring the students and even separated them when they were fighting.
“But unfortunately, the suspect student broke away from the adults and attacked the victim student,” Short said.
Short said the student suffered serious injuries but is recovering. The student suspect was taken into custody.
Press play above to watch the full interview with Chief Short
Short encouraged parents to be involved to avoid incidents like this.
“It really starts at home. And this is a great reminder to our families and our parents that we need them to be involved and our safety protocols are not a substitute for that,” Short said.
Short added that all school buses have cameras, radios to dispatch, and at least one adult monitoring the students.
“We need the parents involved in paying attention. And again, the students who are paying attention to their peers. And anytime there’s a conflict, just reporting it so we can get ahead of it and prevent something like what happened yesterday,” he said.