Cops Identify Suspect In Beating Of 11-Year-Old Boy On School Bus

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police have identified the suspect wanted in the assault of an 11-year-old boy that occurred in late March.

Authorities said they believe 26-year-old Joshua Jones is the man responsible for the injuries sustained by special needs student Jameel Grant on March 25.

Late Friday night, police released a photograph of Jones in the hope of locating him with the public's help.

On Thursday, CBS 2's Kathryn Brown spoke with Grant and his mother, Brunila Canales, about the attack. The young boy said another student leaned out the bus window and started cursing at a man walking on the sidewalk.

The suspect allegedly opened the back emergency door, stormed onto the bus and began screaming and beating Grant with his fists.

"He just kept on punching me. He punched me in the face, all over my face," Grant said. "My lip was swollen. My upper lip was big like this and I had a bump. It was a big bump."

The suspect jumped off the bus moments later and the bus driver continued on to P.S. 186.

The boy's mother said she is furious the driver and bus matron both witnessed the beating and did nothing to stop it.

"They had that minute to intervene, push the man, do something, you understand? Stop the man from beating on my son the way he was. They did nothing," Canales said.

Canales has filed a formal complaint against the bus company.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.

All calls are strictly confidential.