6-year-old, 9-year-old shot coming home from school on Metrobus in DC: Police
WASHINGTON (7News) — A 9-year-old and a 6-year-old were shot getting off a Metrobus in the Brightwood neighborhood of northwest Washington, D.C. Wednesday afternoon on their way home from school, Metro Transit Police said.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department told 7News that both children are conscious and breathing.
The shooting happened at 14th Street NW and Fort Stevens Drive.
SEE ALSO | Person stabbed after fight breaks out between girls at Montgomery County park, police say
MTPD said the children and an adult male who was also shot were taken to an area hospital and are expected to recover.
The shooting started as an altercation when several people got on the bus and started to assault a person, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
The fight moved to the street and one person started shooting, hitting two children and an adult. The intended target of the shooting was not hit, MPD added.
During the commotion, police say the children got back onto the bus and the Metro operator drove the bus a few blocks away to Sheridan Street.
"All of my concern is with a 6-year-old and a 9-year-old and all they were doing was coming home from school," D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said. "And an idiot with a gunshot it, indiscriminately, and shot two children."
D.C. resident Jacquie Morrison said she couldn't just walk past the scene.
"It's gotten worse. People are hurting, people are hopeless, and people are just tired -- and they're acting out," she said.
This scene is not far from Georgia Avenue NW where a man was killed and three others injured including an eight-year-old child on Jan. 3.
READ MORE | DC resident shoots, kills 13-year-old boy, says teen was breaking into cars: police
"You will always hear me talk about accountability when it comes to people who commit reckless acts in our community," MPD Chief Robert Contee said. "This is unacceptable.”
Still, Morrison said the words are not enough.
"Nothing against the police chief, but it seemed like a rolling script. How many of those speeches have been the same? It's almost like you can just cut it out on a card. Until you get to the heart and the morals of people, of adults, nothing's going to change," she said.
Police are now searching for a male shooting suspect, along with the others that came on the bus and assaulted a passenger.
On Thursday, Tubman Elementary Principal Amanda Delabar released the following statement to parents:
"Your child’s well-being is of the utmost importance to us. Communicating home about issues that impact our school community is a large part of being good partners to our families.
Last night, one of our students was injured in an instance of gun violence. They are receiving the appropriate medical care and attention. On behalf of the entire Tubman community, we share positive thoughts with our student and their family during this time of recovery.
Coping with the effects of community violence is a difficult experience, and we want to support our students and families through this time. Please reach out if your student needs assistance dealing with this news, and we will connect them with our school-based mental health team. We care, and we are here to help. We will also have Wellness Team members available today at our parent chat at 8:30 in the cafeteria as well as next Thursday morning to share ideas about talking with your child.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 314-518-1564, or email me directly at Amanda.Delabar@k12.dc.gov."
7News also received a copy of a letter from John Lewis Elementary School Principal Nikeysha Jackson. Read the statement below:
"Your child’s well-being is of the utmost importance to us. Communicating home about issues that impact our school community is a large part of being good partners to our families.
Last night, one of our students was injured in an instance of gun violence. It is difficult and it angers me to share this kind of news once again. Thankfully the student’s injuries are non-life threatening, and they are receiving the appropriate medical care and attention. On behalf of the entire John Lewis community, we share positive thoughts with our student and their family during this time of recovery.
I recognize you may be feeling many emotions. As we cope with yet another instance of community violence, we want to support our students and families through this time. Please reach out if your student needs assistance dealing with this news, and we will connect them with our school-based mental health team. We care, and we are here to help.
I also want to remind families that the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. There is no threat or security issue on campus. School administration works closely with DCPS school security, the DC Metropolitan Police Department, and neighborhood partners to keep our community safe and informed.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 202-576-6226 or nikeysha.jackson@k12.dc.gov if you have any questions."
