ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — The mother of a student who was assaulted on a school bus last week has responded to a statement from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, which claims she did not meet with officers as requested.

The incident took place on Thursday, October 16, as a student from Wards Creek Elementary was heading home from school.

“A student behind me had his backpack fall under my seat, so I picked it up and handed it back over the seat. After a minute, he slammed his backpack on my head and then dropped it on my head again while I was bent over,” the student recounted to First Coast News.

Following the altercation, a police report was submitted. The authorities have stated that since the investigation is still active, the report remains unavailable to the public.

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office released this statement:

On October 16, 2025, SJSO deputies responded to an altercation that occurred on a school bus with Wards Creek Elementary School students on board. Review of the bus’s video footage shows students engaged in mutual horseplay – one of the students was hit in the head with an empty backpack which caused a small laceration to his head. SJSO in coordination with the State Attorney’s Office determined there was no evidence of intent to cause harm or injury and therefore no crime was committed. Deputies contacted the mother of the student who received the minor injury to show her the video and discuss the findings, but she failed to meet with them.

Upon learning about the statement, the student’s mother says that she was never contacted by SJSO, but is welcome to meet with them.

“I have not been contacted by the sheriff’s department and welcome them to contact me in writing to inform me that I may schedule a time to discuss the misdemeanor committed against my child and the continued harassment by his attacker as I reported to their department yesterday- and to ensure that they will preserve the video as it is evidence of a crime,” she tells First Coast News.

As this case remains under investigation, stay tuned as we work to learn more.