Police: Dad Angry That Daughter's Hair Pulled On School Bus Confronts, Shoots Grandfather

NORTH AMITYVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island father is accused of shooting the grandfather of a boy he believes pulled his daughter's hair on the way to school.

Anthony Franklin, 28, was arrested and charged with second-degree assault.

Franklin was upset when he found out a boy was apparently bullying his 5-year-old daughter on the bus, police said.

"He pulled my hair, he called me a b-word and he touched my book bag, scratched me in my forehead," Franklin's daughter, kindergartner Tahjanique, told 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera.

Listen to Police: Dad Angry That Daughter's Hair Pulled On School Bus Confronts, Shoots Grandfather

On Tuesday afternoon, police said Franklin went to the North Amityville home of the boy he believed was involved and got into an altercation with the boy's grandfather, Wilson McWilliams.

The girl's mother, 28-year-old Ayesha Clinton, said she and Franklin went to the house "to try to speak to the parents about the situation, it's been going on."

Tahjanique Franklin, 5, and her mother Ayesha Clinton, 28, at court in Central Islip. (credit: Mona Rivera/1010 WINS)

According to police, what happened next was criminal. The Franklin family walked across the street on Albany Avenue to confront the family of Tahjanique's classmate, an argument ensued, and violence erupted.

As CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported, detectives claim Franklin pulled a gun on the boy's 48-year-old grandfather and fired two rounds into the man's leg and buttocks.

He survived and was hospitalized in stable condition.

Franklin claims the shooting was accidental as they struggled over the weapon.

"It started because the little boy pulled my daughter's hair and said he was going to kill her, It's been going for a month and a half. I don't know what they problem is or how this little boy is being raised at home. Myself and the father came to speak to the parents and it turned into a a physical altercation," Clinton said.

Northeast Elementary responded to claims of taunting on the school bus.

"The district conducted an internal investigation and does not tolerate any type of inappropriate behavior among students. Disciplinary matters are confidential."

McWilliams was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

Franklin is being held on $150,000 bond.

Tahjanique will not ride the school bus until her mother is satisfied that it is safe.