An Arizona mother, 27-year-old Hermenegilda Marquez, has been arrested and charged with felony aggravated assault for attacking a school bus driver. The incident occurred on April 11, 2024, and was captured on video.
According to the Mesa Police Department, Marquez boarded the bus around 2 pm and immediately confronted the driver, accusing her of speaking badly about her daughter. The driver, who claimed to have never spoken to Marquez before, asked her to leave the bus.
Instead, Marquez allegedly began physically assaulting the driver, striking her multiple times and pulling her hair. The driver attempted to use the bus radio to call for help, but Marquez allegedly grabbed the cord and yanked on it, demanding that the driver “do something now.”
Multiple parents were present at the bus stop when Marquez boarded. Some were complaining about the bus not stopping at the right location, while Marquez had a separate complaint.
“Were you talking s–t about my daughter?,” Marquez is allegedly heard asking the bus driver in the video.
Marquez’s boyfriend eventually intervened and pulled her off the bus. However, as she was being removed, she grabbed the driver’s hair with both hands and almost pulled her out of her seat, according to police.
At the time of the assault, police said, there were 11 children still onboard the bus.
Marquez left the scene after the attack, but police later identified her as the suspect and interviewed her. During questioning, police read Marquez her Miranda Rights, and she immediately invoked her right to an attorney.
Police showed Marquez the video of the assault and informed her that she would be charged with a felony. Marquez allegedly showed no emotion when she was told she was being charged, according to police.
