A 13-year-old female student was beaten so badly by seven students between the ages of 12 and 15 that she was left unconscious on the school bus Friday morning, the Ocala Star-Banner reports. The teens are students at Liberty Middle School in Ocala, Fla.
The victim was taken to a hospital where she was treated for a concussion, "severe bruising" on her head and muscle spasms.
According to the report, Deputy Larry McArdle interviewed the victim, who said it was her first day riding the bus and none of the children would let her sit down. She went on to tell McArdle that someone thew a shoe at her and, when she threw it back, she was attacked by several students.
The bus driver noticed the fighting and stopped the bus, the Associated Press reports, but the fight began again as soon as the driver continued his route. He called authorities once they arrived at school.
Orlando's WKMG interviewed one of the suspect's mothers, Bessie Coleman, who told the station she is sorry for the girl's injuries, but that she believes the fight started because the victim was making "racial comments."
The teens -- whose names, along with that of the victim, are not being released -- have been charged with battery and disorderly conduct.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this post stated the children attend Marion Oaks Elementary School, this is not true. We regret the error, and the post has been changed.
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