The fatal bus stop attack on a 13-year-old Cherokee County boy by a 15-year-old has one Fayette County parent asking questions.

Scott Ethridge, father of a 13-year-old boy attending Flat Creek Middle School, said his son was "roughed up" several weeks ago after he got off the bus and was now again being threatened by the youth who he claims attacked his son.

Ethridge said about six to eight students, who get off at the same stop off Ga. Highway 85, witnessed the incident, which occurred after the school bus was out of sight.

According to Tyrone Jones, assistant principal at Flat Creek, the boy involved was temporarily suspended from riding the bus. " This was a verbal and physical altercation," Jones said. "No police were called. The punishment was commensurate with the crime," he said. "The boy's actions were inappropriate and undesirable, but not criminal," Jones added.

As far as the recent threats, Jones said any student being threatened should report it to the bus driver who in turn will notify the school. "We maintain good liaisons with the bus drivers," he said.

Bill Bonnet, transportation supervisor for Fayette County Schools, said bus drivers are instructed to stay with the student if they are aware that the student may be endangered. "We'll dispatch the police out to them," he said. "Some of the buses carry monitors to assist children who are handicapped or have a behavior disorder. We've had staff members and assistant principals ride the bus as monitors," Bonnet said. This is not the norm for Fayette County, however, Bonnet noted.