Delaware

Delaware 9th Grader Gets on School Bus After Being Shot

A teen got onto his school bus after being shot on his way to school in Wilmington, Delaware, Monday morning, authorities said.

The incident played out along N Van Buren Street near 27th Street around 6:50 a.m., according to Wilmington police.

The Red Clay School District confirmed the boy is a ninth grader at John Dickinson High School on Milltown Road in Wilmington.

The boy and a group of other teens boarded their normal yellow bus and then the other children alerted the driver that the boy was shot, said Jay Brock, spokesman for bus company First Student. The driver called dispatch which then called police.

Police then came on the bus and took the boy off the bus, Brock said.

Medics rushed the boy to A.I. DuPont Children's Hospital where doctors treated him for gunshot wounds to his arm and abdomen, police said. The boy was listed in stable condition.

"He's very, very fortunate," said the teen's father, who did not want to be identified.

At least one bullet struck the windshield of a car parked nearby. It wasn't immediately clear how many shots were fired. James Harrison told NBC10 he heard the gunshots.

"We just heard gunfire, five rounds at least and then sort of people kind of hollering and running," Harrison said.

First Student said the bus driver followed all protocol and that no one else on the bus was injured.

"Couple of the other kids are kind of shaken up," said parent Royal Conquest. He said the shooting was difficult on parents as well.

No word yet on the circumstances surrounding the shooting. The teen's father said he didn't know of any conflicts his son had with anyone.

"Absolutely none," he said. "Just nothing to do. No direction, nothing to do."

The father also said he recently moved his son down to Wilmington from Philadelphia because he believed it would be safer.

"With just the flick of the switch anything can happen real, real fast," he said.

Police asked anyone with information to contact Det. A. Ford at 302-576-3606.

The school district planned on launching its "Corner-to-Corner" program where volunteers and paid staff keep an eye on bus stops. That program will be launched, with help from police, on Tuesday, said that district.[[238427591, C]]

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