Student attacked while waiting for school bus in South Gate – NBC Los Angeles

A man attacked a 10-year-old boy as he waited for the school bus in South Gate on Tuesday morning.

Shortly before 8 a.m., a fourth-grader in the Downey Unified School District was waiting for his school bus when an apparently homeless man attacked him from behind.

“I was just standing there waiting for my bus, eating my apple and he came up behind me on foot and hit me on the back,” the victim said.

“It sucks because he’s so young and he shouldn’t have to worry about someone bigger than him and not in their right mind hurting him,” said Stayca Baker, a family member of the victim.

Surveillance video shows a woman and her son rushing to help him.

The boy fell partially on the street, where luckily no cars were passing by. The 10-year-old was taken to hospital and is doing much better this evening.

The Good Samaritan called the police and showed them the way to the attacker. The police later arrested the man.

The boy’s mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, says she is eternally grateful to the woman who stopped to help her son.

“I am grateful to the civilian who stopped and made sure my son was okay. Hopefully there are more people like her who care about the safety of children,” said the victim’s mother.

The victim’s mother said she had complained about the school bus stop on busy Imperial Highway.

Tonight, the school district announced that the bus stop location will be changed for the next school year.

The 10-year-old will be at school tomorrow and said he is looking forward to celebrating his last day of school.