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Neighbors push for safety after school bus stop fight

Neighbors in the Mechanicsville area met Monday for a passionate discussion, trying to figure out what needs to be done to keep students safe. ​​​​

Parents and neighbors in the Mechanicsville neighborhood are re-examining safety following a fight at a bus stop in that area last week.

That fight unfolded near University Avenue and Alfredda Delaney roads.

It started between a group of middle schoolers, but grew to roughly 20 people, including kids and adults.

One woman ended up in the hospital, and another woman now faces an attempted murder charge.

Neighbors in the area met Monday for a passionate discussion, trying to figure out what needs to be done to keep students safe. ​​​​

Parents, like Breyauna Holloway, who had kids on the bus that day, want more oversight from school staff and bus drivers.

"My children are standing at this very same bus stop having to witness this and be uncomfortable," said Holloway.

Fatima Wallace owns and drives the bus for that Mechanicsville stop.

"No one said anything to me about fight or anything. I listen to my bus all the time," she said.

Wallace is close with all the middle schoolers on her bus.

She said it wasn't until she started to pull away that she heard one of her students yell "we need to call the police."

She made the call.

Wallace said her training prepared her to handle fights on the bus.

This fight wasn't on the bus, and she didn't hear anything about a fight before it happened.

Parents said more needs to be done to prevent fights like this, and it starts with setting a good example at home.

"We can stand at the bus stops in the morning or in the afternoons as a positive presence," said Holloway.

She also suggested having school resource officers ride buses with the kids.

Neighbors said they're glad police responded to Monday's fight, but the increased patrols have some worried that the neighborhood kids are seeing too much police activity.

They wonder if it could bring a negative perception of officers.

"We need to start figuring out a better way," said Constance Every, who works with foster children through her nonprofit Sleeves4Needs. "The answer is not putting police at bus stops and in the buses and in the classrooms and all they see now is this authority figure that they constantly are combating up against. That is not the answer for our children."

Every said teaching kids that violence doesn't solve problems should start at home.

"When they come to school, that is an escape for them from their environment," she said.

Police were at the bus stop the day after the fight because of rumors a fight may break out again.

Neighbors hope the community can rally at the bus stops to try to stop the hate.

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