Juvenile detained in investigation into gun discharging on South Bend school bus

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - A juvenile has been detained in connection with a shots fired investigation on a school bus in South Bend.

Police were called to the 400 block of Teri Street around 4:45 p.m. to investigate claims that a gun had been discharged on a school bus transporting students from Jackson Middle School.

Ballistics evidence confirmed one round was fired on the bus. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Through an investigation and the processing of evidence, a juvenile suspect was identified and interviewed. As a result, the juvenile has been detained at the Juvenile Justice Center on charges of dangerous possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and criminal recklessness.

“It shouldn’t have happened,” said South Bend Police Chief Scott Ruszkowski. “I mean, none of us have crystal balls. But parents should be knowing what their kids are taking with them or bringing home with them. And that does not appear to be the case in this incident.”

Ruszkowski says other people could face consequences, depending on how the juvenile obtained the gun.

“There could be other people that potentially could be criminally charged if those people knew that that child had a firearm, or had access negligent with that firearm,” he said. “And I think the question still remain where did that firearm come from? How long did that child have the firearm with them? And what happened through the course of the day?”

A letter was sent out to Jackson Middle School families Wednesday morning regarding the incident. School officials say they are cooperating with the South Bend Police Department’s investigation, and there would be heightened security at dismissal Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the South Bend Community School Corporation sent out another release regarding the incident on Wednesday afternoon.

This is the second time in just over one month that gunfire erupted around South Bend students and a school bus.

On Aug. 17, the first day of school, South Bend Police responded to the corner of Huey Street and Bulla Street for shots fired and ultimately detained a South Bend high school student.

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