Police officers using excessive force against civilians is not a new concern, but a recent incident in Georgia has left many parents fearing for their children’s safety. According to reports, an officer allegedly tased a student following a misunderstanding and an attempt to remove the child from a school bus. The troubling confrontation has since gone viral, prompting public outrage as the officer faces increased scrutiny and an ongoing investigation.
The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon on a bus carrying students from Langston Hughes High School in South Fulton, Georgia. The student, identified as 18-year-old Lanier Johnson-Hunt, told Atlanta News First that the situation escalated after a new bus driver mistakenly believed he had boarded the wrong bus. Johnson-Hunt said he refused to get off because he knew it was his assigned route. According to him, that refusal prompted school police to be called and the confrontation eventually turned physical.
In the video, two officers can be seen attempting to remove Johnson-Hunt from the bus after he was initially tased. When the student continued to refuse to leave, one of the officers tased him again and warned that he could be tased further if he did not comply. According to Fulton County Schools, footage of the incident quickly circulated online, sparking public outrage and prompting an internal investigation. The officer involved, whose name has not been released, has since been placed off active duty while the district reviews the incident.
“At the moment, nothing was going through my mind,” Johnson-Hunt said afterward. “I’ve never been tased before. But now I think that’s crazy. You’re a school resource officer. You’re supposed to be helping us, and you’re tasing random kids. There’s no point in you tasing me at all,” says Johnson-Hunt in an interview with Atlanta News First.
Parents are deeply concerned
In a statement, Fulton County Schools confirmed the taser was used and emphasized that the matter is being taken seriously. District officials also said the officer has been removed from active duty pending the outcome of an investigation, but declined to release further details due to student privacy concerns. The officer has not yet been publicly identified.
Meanwhile, parents in the community have voiced concern, questioning whether the use of a taser on a student was necessary at all. As the investigation continues, the incident has reignited debate over the role of police in schools and how quickly routine discipline issues can escalate into traumatic encounters.
“My thing is two grown men can lift a skinny kid out of a bus. He wanted to taze him,” claims a commenter on X.
Another commenter questioned, “So if im a law abiding parent & I come to get my child off the bus & he or she starts acting up not wanting to be removed I have the right to taze my child? Or is that child abuse?” while arguing that the use of force appeared unnecessary, especially since the incident seems to have stemmed from a misunderstanding.
