Two Poplar Bluff, Mo., teenagers are being investigated for allegedly firing shots from a BB gun, one of which struck a school bus Wednesday afternoon as it was taking children home.
Authorities say a Poplar Bluff school bus, as well as at least two other vehicles, were struck with BBs while traveling on County Road 302.
In a written statement provided to the Butler County Sheriff's Department, Poplar Bluff bus driver Christopher Lux said, at about 3:10 p.m., he was stopped at the stop sign on County Road 302, preparing to turn left onto the East Outer Road, when a student "yelled out that something hit him. Then the students in the back stated that the rear glass on the emergency door was shattered."
Lux, further wrote, that the student had glass in his seat.
Although R-1 Superintendent Scott Dill didn't know how many students were on the bus at the time it was struck, he indicated the students were elementary and middle school age.
"One student asserted he was hit with some glass," Dill explained. "We communicated with the parents, by that time, they were home, obviously.
"The student didn't display any injuries as far as we know at this time."
Wesley McCollum also reported he was driving home from work on County Road 302 when he heard a loud bang of something hitting his truck's back glass, causing it to shatter.
In addition, Patricia Adams, a resident of the 1300 block of County Road 302, reported she was driving her 2016 Chevrolet Malibu down her county road when she heard a "loud pop" come from the passenger side. She subsequently found a small bullet hole in the passenger door.
As part of Butler County Cpl. Bo Skinner's investigation, according to his report, he went to the bus garage, where he photographed the damage to the school bus and subsequently contacted assistant superintendent Rod Priest, who was at a location in the 1500 block of County Road 302 with the "subjects possibly related to the school bus incident."
Priest, Skinner said, reported he had seen a male juvenile, with a BB gun, run across a yard and enter a home in the 1500 block of County Road 302.
Skinner said Priest identified the juvenile, whom the deputy contacted, along with the teen's mother, who reported her son had been "staying at the residence with relatives."
Skinner asked the woman to take her 13-year-old son to the sheriff's department and contacted the on-duty juvenile officer to also respond there.
Prior to leaving the scene, Skinner said, he contacted the man who lived at the residence and his 14-year-old son.
After being granted permission by the teen's father, Skinner said, he spoke with the teen.
" ... he advised that the other juvenile was shooting a pellet gun and shot the windows of the bus and truck," said Skinner, who subsequently was given the pellet gun.
Skinner also collected a written statement from Priest in which he reported he was driving on the East Outer Road near County Road 302 when he saw the two juveniles running across the yard. One, he said, was carrying a "long gun."
Priest further reported both were identified as Poplar Bluff students and questioned about the incident.
"Mr. Priest advised that the juvenile told him he was shooting a bird when he shot the truck window," Skinner said. "(He) advised that the juvenile told him that he dropped the gun, and it went off and hit the school bus window."
Skinner said he went to the sheriff's department, where he contacted the younger teen, his mother and the juvenile officer, who told the teen of his rights.
"The juvenile advised that he was shooting at a bird when he hit the truck window," Skinner said. "The juvenile advised that he and the other juvenile were both shooting at the bird when the bus window got shot out."
The boys, according to Butler County Chief Juvenile Officer Shonda Hill, were questioned about the incident, but not detained.
"At this point ... the investigation is still pending," said Hill, who awaits a copy of Skinner's report.
School officials, Dill said, are cooperating with the sheriff's department to investigate the situation.
The shooting of a school bus is something "we take very seriously," Dill said. "The safety of our students is paramount."
Dill said there is "no reason" this incident should have happened. It was the result of a "poor choice," which could result in disciplinary ramifications, he said.
"It's an unfortunate choice somebody made, but hopefully, we can move forward," Dill said.