A student was hurt after a school bus was shot at in Moncrief Friday afternoon, authorities say. At this time, authorities say they believe it wasn't a firearm that was used to shoot the bus, but they do not know what it was.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office confirms that the bus had 12 students on it as it traveled to the intersection of Fairfax Street and 10th Street a few blocks south of Susie E. Tolbert Elementary School when the shooting happened.
A few hours after the shooting, police arrested a suspect. The 17-year-old suspect was reportedly shooting rocks out of a BB gun outside of a home on Fairfax, police say. He told authorities he was bored and trying to hit squirrels.
The teen eventually admitted to police he shot at the bus. One of the students on the bus told authorities he got a look at the suspect and brought them to the area. Officers saw the suspect carrying a BB gun outside of a home when they arrived.
He's facing charges of shooting deadly missiles/objects into an occupied vehicle - a felony.
A single projectile went through a rear window on the driver's side and hurt one student on the bus - police say they don't know if it was broken glass or the bullet that hurt the student. She did not need to be taken to the hospital.
The bus was carrying students from Wolfson High School on Powers Avenue in the Southside. A police spokesperson says the students were in good spirits after the incident.
Parents picked up their students at R.V. Daniels Elementary School, says a Duval County Public Schools spokesperson.
One bus leaving scene of Wolfson HS bus shooting @FCN2go pic.twitter.com/BWB0OGrUaI
— anne schindler (@schindy) December 16, 2016
School bus shooting: Duval County School Board Police bringing snacks to the kids. #JAX #Jacksonville #JSO pic.twitter.com/iP0bNNv4Ht
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) December 16, 2016
A spokesperson says the bus was traveling down Fairfax at 10th when something hit and broke the window. Authorities still need to interview the students on the bus to find out if anyone saw anything.
Kids OK following bus incident -- apparent shooting -- at 13th and Fairfax says @FCN2go @kangel6 pic.twitter.com/ORtwA1Jbkg
— anne schindler (@schindy) December 16, 2016
Superintendent of Duval Schools Dr. Nikolai Vitti released a statement on the shooting:
No student should be fearful when riding to and from school on our busses due to violence. We are relieved that nobody was seriously injured and will actively work with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to determine who was behind this incomprehensible act.
