A St. Louis County father accused of directing his young daughter to assault another child on a school bus is now in police custody. Authorities say 36-year-old Maurice Fox boarded a Ferguson-Florissant School District bus with his six-year-old daughter on October 9 and instructed her to repeatedly punch a seven-year-old girl in the head.
The incident took place near Frost Avenue and was captured on the bus’s security cameras. According to court documents, Fox forced his way onto the bus and told his daughter to attack the other child. When the girl stopped hitting the victim, Fox allegedly told her “again,” prompting her to resume the assault.
As the seven-year-old tried to defend herself, Fox reportedly urged his daughter once more, saying, “I want her crying, again.” The violent encounter left students and staff shocked. Following the attack, an arrest warrant was issued for Fox, charging him with one count of first-degree harassment, two counts of fourth-degree assault, and trespassing on a school bus, KSDK reported.
Police confirmed that Fox turned himself in to authorities on Monday night after being wanted for nearly a week. “No child should ever be exposed to that kind of behavior, especially in a setting that should feel safe, like a school bus,” Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle said in a statement to First Alert 4.
Chief Doyle urged parents to handle conflicts through communication rather than aggression. “We encourage parents and guardians to work with school officials, counselors, and community resources when facing conflicts involving their children,” he said. “Collaboration and communication — not confrontation — are how we keep our kids and schools safe.”
In addition to the new charges, investigators uncovered a lengthy criminal history for Fox in Wisconsin. Court records show convictions between 2006 and 2016 for possession of a firearm, armed robbery, and aggravated battery. Records from Dane County, Wisconsin, also reveal that Fox failed to appear for a hearing in 2022 related to a 2016 case, resulting in an active warrant for his arrest in that state.
The Ferguson-Florissant School District has not released a public statement regarding the incident, but confirmed that safety protocols were followed and that the children involved are receiving support. Fox remains in custody awaiting court proceedings. The case has sparked outrage among parents and educators, raising renewed concerns about safety on school transportation and the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully rather than through violence.