Gun on School Bus Was Stolen in Home Break-In: Sarasota PD

SARASOTA, FL – The firearm reportedly found Thursday on a Sarasota school bus was among two stolen in an apartment burglary, and now an adult and another teen were arrested in connection with the case, plus additional charges were added for students initially involved, according to police.

On Thursday at approximately 3 p.m., two students from Booker Middle School reportedly brought a .38 caliber revolver onto a school bus at North Lockwood Ridge and Jolson Drive in Sarasota, police said.

Investigators determined three males students -- two 14-year-olds and one 13-year-old -- were involved, and they were charged Thursday evening for suspected possession of a firearm on school property, officials said.

The gun was one of two stolen in a residential burglary at the Bella Sol Apartments on Signal Pointe Circle in Sarasota, police said, adding that three minors and an adult were identified as being involved in one vehicle and three home break-ins on March 15.

Juan A. Hernandez, 18, of Sarasota, was arrested on three counts of suspected armed burglary to an occupied dwelling, police said.

A fourth juvenile, 14, also was identified as having taken possession of the revolver, had it at school, and he was added to the arrests in the case, police said.

The revolver was unloaded and recovered by Sarasota detectives after the bus incident, and no students were injured, officials said.

Charges for the juveniles, according to the Sarasota PD, are:

Male, 14: one count of armed burglary to an occupied dwelling; two counts of unarmed burglary to an unoccupied dwelling.

Male, 14, student at Booker Middle: one count of principal to armed burglary of an occupied dwelling.; one count of vehicle burglary, unoccupied; one count of possession of a firearm on school property.

Male, 14, student at Booker Middle: one count of possession of a firearm on school property.

Male, 13, student at Booker Middle: one count of principal to armed burglary of an occupied dwelling; one count of possession of a firearm on school property.

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--Image via Renee Schiavone, Patch