Signage of the Youth Rehabilitation Center on St. Croix. The sign has deteriorated over time and is no longer visible. By. V.I. CONSORTIUM FILE PHOTO
While the adult student captured on video assaulting a bus driver in his 70s alongside two minors faces criminal charges, the minors have been sent to the Youth Rehabilitation Center on St. Croix—a facility designed for young offenders who cannot be tried as adults—as the repercussions of the disturbing incident unfold.
The assault, which took place last Wednesday afternoon, occurred while the bus was making its regular rounds in the Strawberry area of St. Croix. According to court documents, the students initiated the attack. Video footage captured adult student Caleave Mascall Jr., alongside two other male minor students from the St. Croix Central High School, engaging in a brutal assault that left the elderly bus driver with visible injuries. The attack reportedly began after a verbal altercation escalated, leading to the minors joining Mascall in the physical confrontation.
The V.I. Police Department responded swiftly, arresting Mascall and remanding him to the John Bell Correctional Facility. The minors, due to their age, were handed over to the Juvenile Investigation Bureau and later transferred to the Youth Rehabilitation Center (YRC). This facility, located on St. Croix, is specifically for juveniles who have committed offenses but do not meet the legal criteria for adult trials.
Judge Jessica Gallivan upheld the charges against Mascall during his hearing, including third-degree assault, vehicle tampering, and disturbance of the peace. She emphasized the severity of the incident, maintaining that the charges warranted Mascall's continued detention until his next court appearance, after he failed to make bail of $25,000.
In response to the attack, Abramson Enterprises, the contracted bus service provider for the V.I. Department of Education (VIDE), suspended bus services across the island, citing safety concerns for their staff. School bus service is expected to resume today.
The incident has sparked widespread concern within the community and among local officials. St. Croix Police Chief Sean Santos condemned the violence, calling for parents to engage more closely with their children and monitor their behavior. The Virgin Islands Board of Education echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for accountability and respect in school environments.
VIDE, meanwhile, reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for violence, stressing the importance of appropriate behavior on school transportation and reminding the community that "school bus transportation is a privilege."
