12-year-old Cary student hit by stranger while going to bus stop

A Cary Junior High School student was hit by a man while on his way to the bus stop, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the school Tuesday morning after learning of the battery, police said. The incident happened about 7:30 a.m. in a residential area near the intersection of West Pittner Avenue and Hickory Nut Grove Road in unincorporated Cary, according to a news release.

Police said the 12-year-old boy was walking to his bus stop when a man – described as being in his late 20s and wearing all black – approached the student and hit him in the face, according to the release. The student told police he did not provoke the man and the man fled into a wooded area.

The boy was not seriously injured, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.

Cary School District 26 Superintendent Brian Coleman alerted parents to the incident with a post on the district’s website. Coleman shared safety tips for parents and students, advising that kids should not walk alone and stay in well-traveled public areas.

“If anyone follows you, bothers you, or makes you feel uncomfortable, get away from him or her as quickly as you can, then be sure to tell a parent, teacher or other trusted adult,” Coleman said.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who lives in the area to review surveillance video from their homes. Anyone with information can contact the Lake County sheriff at 847-549-5200.