School Bus Attack Leads To Charges

By STEPHEN THOMPSON The Tampa Tribune

Published: Sep 25, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - A woman and her daughter have been charged with boarding a school bus Friday and assaulting a 13-year-old boy, police say.

Karen L. Barber, 34, of 774 17th Ave. S., was charged with battery, as was her 15-year-old daughter, said St. Petersburg police spokesman George Kajtsa. The daughter's name was not released because she is a minor and she was charged with a misdemeanor.

The boy who was assaulted had fought with Barber's 12-year-old son on the bus the day before, said St. Petersburg police spokesman Bill Proffitt. Barber's son had picked up a folder that belonged to the other boy and wouldn't give it back, so the other boy punched him, Kajtsa said.

Barber was angry over the incident and that night went to the home of the other boy and threatened to shoot up the house, Kajtsa said. The mother of the other boy didn't take the threat seriously, Kajtsa said.

About 9:30 a.m. Friday, Barber and her daughter followed the school bus in a car and honked the horn, Proffitt said. The bus driver pulled over and stopped in the 1500 block of 16th Street South, the spokesman said.

Karen Barber pulled in behind the school bus, got out and walked to door, Proffitt said. The bus driver opened the door to see what the pair wanted, the spokesman said. Barber pushed the door open, said her boy was on the bus and boarded the bus with her daughter, Proffitt said.

She and her daughter then approached the 13-year-old boy, who was seated about six rows back, Proffitt said. Barber, using her index finger, tapped the boy on the forehead while cursing him and slapped him once, Proffitt said. Her daughter then slapped him two times with such force the blows caused his head to turn, Kajtsa said.

The bus driver broke up the assault and the two left the bus, Proffitt said.

Barber's family is related to the victim's family, Kajtsa said.

Reporter Stephen Thompson can be reached at (727) 451-2336 or spthompson@tampatrib.com.