Wednesday, Aug. 31. 2016

BAMBERG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT0-- Police believe they may have proof 17 year old Tavon Walters is responsible for the slap that left marks on a 5-year-old's face. They believe the picture was possibly flipped which could answer the question about why the mark was on the opposite cheek from the assault in the school bus security video. Walters is charged with assaulting the girl because of the security video but school officials don't believe the mark came from the bus assault.

Jazmyn Peters' father snapped a picture of his daughter when he picked her up from after school care on Thursday.

The picture which has been shared thousands of times on Facebook shows a handprint on the left side of Jazmyn's face.

Bamberg District One School Superintendent Phyllis Schwarting told On Your Side the mark didn't come from the assault on the bus because bus security video shows the 17 year old hitting the 5 year old on the right side of the face. The picture on Facebook shows a mark on the left side. "There was some perhaps inappropriate you know picking up another child's hand but not any evidence she left with a handprint on her face from the bus."

Bamberg police believe someone may have flipped the picture. They believe the mark may really be on the right side of the girl's face and that Tavon Walters is responsible for it. Certain apps and settings on cell phones will flip a picture.

The attorney for the Peters family is looking into the school's procedures and policies. The family is considering a possible lawsuit. They want to know why Walters was even allowed on the bus. The 17 year old is no stranger to getting into trouble in and out of school.

Liz Owens: "This kid has been in trouble at school before no secret, they're saying he's on probation, why is it that someone who has a history like that allowed to ride the bus, especially with young students?"

Phyllis Schwarting: "Well, he had not had any bus incidents for one."

Liz Owens: "So it doesn't really matter how bad of trouble you get in at school? You could hit a kid at school or have a history of being violent at school as long, as that didn't happen on the bus, he's not going to lose his bus privileges?"

Phyllis Schwarting: "Well that's sort of taking things out of context."

Schwarting would not comment on the possibility of the picture being flipped. She told Liz Owens, "I have information to the contrary."

Bamberg County Sheriff's Office told On Your Side they are currently not investigating child abuse or cruelty to children cases. Bamberg police say their only suspect is Tavon Walters. Walters is out on bond. He is back in court on September 26th, 2016.

Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2016

BAMBERG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) -- Police confirmed Wednesday that Tavon Walters, 17, slapped a 5-year-old girl during a school bus ride.

Bamberg police said Wednesday someone flipped a picture of 5-year-old Jazmyn Peters. They believe Walters is responsible for the mark on her face.

School officials said Walter's didn't leave the mark because it was on the opposite side of what the bus security video shows. Police are talking with the solicitor to see if this changes the charges. We'll have updates in the case tonight on News 12 NBC 26.

Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016 |

UPDATE: 3:40 p.m.

BAMBERG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) -- A teenager accused of hitting a 5-year-old girl on a Bamberg school bus has been granted a one thousand dollar bond.

Tavon Walters turned himself in Tuesday morning. Walter's is expected to appear in court next on Sept. 26. Walters is accused of hitting the girl on the bus ride from the schools to the after school program.

Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016

BAMBERG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) -- A 17-year-old accused of hitting a 5-year-old girl on a school bus turned himself into police Tuesday morning.

Tavon Walters turned himself in at 10 a.m. and a bond hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Walters is accused of hitting the girl on the bus ride from the schools to the after school program.

Monday, Aug. 29, 2016

BAMBERG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT)-- Parents of a 5 year-old girl are furious. They say security video, taken on a Bamberg school bus, shows her being hit. Now, the 17-year-old accused of hitting her has a warrant out for his arrest. Jasmine's parents want to know why the high school student was allowed to ride the bus in the first place.

Terry Peters says he immediately noticed the mark on his little girl's face when he picked her up from after school care on Thursday. "I'm very upset! I'm mad," Peters said.

He says the daycare workers told him 17 year old Tavon Walters, a high school student, hit his daughter on the bus ride from the schools to the after school program. "He had reached over that seat and telling another girl if you don't hit her then I'm going to hit her for you," the father said.

The bus security video shows Walters grabbing another student's hand and using it to hit Jasmine on the right side of her face. The picture of the mark on Jasmine's face is on the left side which is why school officials and police are unclear if the teen is responsible for the actual mark in the picture.

"The behavior on the bus was not abnormal," Phyllis Schwarting said. The Bamberg District One Superintendent says it's common for all ages of students to share a bus in rural districts. However, Peter's attorney wants to know why Walters was even allowed to ride the bus.

According to police, he's on probation and has a history of getting into trouble at school. "We are talking about a kid who is 17 years old much larger than this five year old child history of violence and he is put on the bus with her in close proximity," Charlie Williams said.

Peters says nobody from the school called him about the alleged assault. The school superintendent On Your Side it's because the bus driver didn't notice it.

"It could happen to anybody it could happen to anybody's child and had I not seen that slap on her face then I would not have known about what that video is showing today," Jasmine's father said.

There is a warrant out for Walters. He will be charged with 3rd degree assault. He could also be in trouble at school. The principal is recommending he be expelled.

As for that prior trouble he's been in it all of that happened when he was under age so it's not public record.

School officials say they have talked about getting bus monitors but they say there's just no money for it. They are looking at their options. There is assigned seating. On the video, you see Jasmine change seats. The school is looking to make sure everyone knows where they should sit.