12-year-old suspended after bringing knives to bus stop to protect himself from bully

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A sixth-grader has been suspended from his middle school after he brought two 8-inch knives with him to the bus stop last week.

Channel 2′s Chris Jose talked to the 12-year-old boy’s mother, who said that he brought the knives to protect himself after a bully repeatedly punched him on the bus.

Jamelia Sistrunk said her son has an emotional behavior disorder. He’s currently serving a 10-day suspension from Floyd Middle School.

Sistrunk said she didn’t now about the attack until the principal called her about the knives.

"He said he brought the knives because he said he was going to try to hurt the other child that hurt him on the bus the day before," Sistrunk said.

Sistrunk said she’s angry because she says that the bus driver didn’t report the attack on her son and told the kids to handle it themselves.

"My son could've killed himself," Sistrunk said. "And other kids could have been injured or hurt. (The bus driver) witnessed the attack. He did not do anything."

Sistrunk told Jose that the other children safely took the knives away. She said now, her son doesn't want to go back to the school.

"He doesn't feel safe on the bus," Sistrunk said.

The principal told Sistrunk the bus driver and the bully would be disciplined.

Jose reached out to the Cobb County School District, which sent him a statement:

"Due to state and federal privacy laws, including FERPA, we cannot speak to specific situations involving students. However, we endeavor to partner with parents to meet the needs of our students each and every day, and safety is always our top priority."

Sistrunk said the school needs better resources to help kids with emotional disorders.

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