Juvenile detained after gunshot on school bus, parents react

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- South Bend Police have detained a juvenile in connection to a gunshot being fired on a South Bend school bus. The bus from Jackson Middle School was on it’s route to drop students off on Teri Street on Tuesday when a gunshot was fired inside the school bus.

Even though no one was shot, parents worried for their children’s safety still have questions.

“That’s the last place you think that they’re going to get hurt,” says the parent of a South Bend middle schooler.

A gunshot on a school bus is the latest concern for local parents already worried about national increases to violent crime, mass shootings, and school safety.

“We’ve seen a lot of people getting hurt, getting killed,” says the parent.

A South Bend parent who asked not to be identified questions why a middle schooler would be carrying a gun in the first place, which has them even more concerned for their own child.

“In school, that’s where they’re supposed to get educated, in school,” the parent says. “But nowadays, we don’t even know what can happen at schools, so of course I’m worried about it.”

The parent says there is clearly a bigger issue behind it all, thinking about his own 13-year-old middle schooler.

“There’s no way a little 13-year-old should be carrying a gun in school, and there’s no way he could buy a gun,” says the parent. “I think it should be the parent’s responsibility, or the parents should get punished when stuff like this happens.”

Police have since charged a juvenile with dangerous possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and criminal recklessness.

The parent believes the suspect’s parents should also be held accountable.

“If a middle schooler is getting charged, I think it’s supposed to be the parent’s responsibility,” the parent says. “If he’s old enough, which I don’t think he’s old enough to be carrying a gun, but he needs to be aware and know that what he did was not correct, and there’s consequences to everything.”

The South Bend Community School Corporation said in a statement it will remain vigilant and focused on safety.

If you want to report any concerns or submit anonymous information, the school corporation says to submit an anonymous tip to Michiana Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP, or the district’s Quick Tip Portal.