WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) -- Police have made an arrest nearly two months after a "beloved" school bus driver was assaulted.
According to Winston-Salem Police Department, they have continued their investigation into the Oct. 22 assault of a WS/FCS bus driver at a school bus lot around 6 a.m.
On Thursday, they shared that they had arrested and charged Nayekamion Onye Hairston with one cont of felony assault inflicting serious bodily injury and misdemeanor trespassing or impeding a school bus.
The school district provided a statement in response to the arrest:
"We were shocked and saddened by this attack on a long-standing district employee who is beloved by many of her students. Our bus drivers are so important to the safety of our children. They deserve our thanks and respect. We cannot comprehend why someone would do this," said Superintendent Tricia McManus. "We are grateful to the Winston-Salem Police Department for their diligence in pursuing this case and bringing forward these charges."
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools also said that in January the district is launching a new set of "behavioral expectations" for bus riders, called WS/FCS R.I.D.E.S., which will set "expectations for students, drivers and parents around respectful communication and safe behaviors on a bus."
"We work hard to model nonviolent resolutions to conflict for our students, and we need the grownups in their lives to set a good example as well. Violence is never the solution, and we will pursue all legal options for adults who unlawfully board our buses," McManus said.
Families that have questions or concerns about the bus driver or bus operations should contact their school principals, the school district says.