PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. (WJLA) — Three masked teens jumped on a school bus in Maryland Monday afternoon and targeted a 14-year-old boy, the last remaining student on the bus.
One of the masked teens pointed a gun at the boy and pulled the trigger three times, but the gun didn’t fire. Police later found three live rounds on the bus.
“This was an attempted murder, plain and simple. Call it what it is,” said Martin Diggs, head of the bus drivers’ union.
Diggs describes it as a ruthless attack.
“They pulled the trigger three times, but for some reason, by the grace of God, the gun didn’t go off and bullets flew out of the gun" he said.
It happened late Monday afternoon on a school bus carrying students home from the Prince George’s County Alternative Middle School in Suitland.
Multiple sources confirm the bus’ onboard video system recorded the whole attack, including the point-blank attempt to shoot the middle schooler in the head.
When the gun didn’t fire after three tries, the attackers physically beat the 14-year-old boy. When the attackers ran off, the driver moved the bus to a safe area.
We are outraged as a district, horrified that this incident did occur,” said Charoscar Coleman, Associate Superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools.
Coleman is urging students, faculty, families and staff to “see something, say something" and report brewing problems.
“Our priority remains providing a safe and orderly environment for our students. That is during school and also to and from school,” said Coleman.
Diggs wants more security. He said the driver and aide thought they were going to be killed.
“They’re terrified," he said. "The one driver does not want to come back to work. They’re terrified. They don’t even want to come out of the house.”
A Prince George’s County Police Department spokesperson said they’re actively seeking the attackers.
WJLA has requested the school bus video. So far, they're being told it can’t be released and have not been able to learn the extent of the 14-year-old victim’s injuries.