2 Children Shot School Buses With BB Guns: Bradenton Police

BRADENTON, FL — Two children face second-degree felony charges after shooting two buses with BB guns Tuesday afternoon, according to a Bradenton Police Department news release.

The suspects — an 11-year-old and a 17-year-old — were charged with shooting into or throwing deadly missiles into a vessel, police said.

The shooters’ names weren’t released, and a police spokesperson told Patch that they’re currently being held as juveniles. The district attorney’s office will determine whether they’re charged as juveniles or adults.

It is Patch's policy not to identify those in the juvenile court system.

The children shot at and damaged two Manatee County School District buses traveling in the 800 block of 27th Street E. in Bradenton, police said.

The first bus was struck twice by BBs around 1:15 p.m. Two windows were damaged.

The second bus was shot once around 4:40 p.m. and only saw minor damage, the agency said.

There were no children on either bus at the time of the shootings, just drivers and aides, according to police. No injuries were reported.

Investigators found that the shots were fired from a home on 27th Street E. The two children at the home were identified as suspects and police found two rifle-style BB guns and a pistol-style BB gun there.

Police were given consent from a parent or guardian to interview them.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the BPD non-emergency line at 941-932-9300. Tips can also be emailed to BPDTips@BradentonPD.com. To remain anonymous, submit information to Crime Stoppers by calling 866-634-8477 or online at manateecrimestoppers.com.