Pellet shot might have broken bus window

A shot from a pellet gun might have broken the window of a Richmond County school bus traveling through metro Atlanta's Gwinnett County over the weekend, authorities said Monday.

Brian Kelly, a spokesman for the Gwinnett County Police Department, said authorities are seeking two young men, one of whom was riding a bicycle at the time and another carrying what appeared to be long-barreled, black pellet gun.

A news release from schools spokesman Louis Svehla said the shooting occurred as a bus carrying Murphey Middle and Cross Creek High pupils was turning around in a residential area after missing a turn.

The release said youngsters on bus No. 287 -- one of three headed back to Augusta from all-state chorus tryouts at Mountain View High School -- heard a popping noise and the back window shattered. A 13-year-old girl received a superficial cut that didn't require stitches.

Authorities say students reported seeing two males running from the rear of the bus and that one appeared to have a gun.

Mr. Kelly said he knew of no similar reports in the area where the shooting occurred.

"It's actually not a bad area at all," he said.

Eighteen students and five adults were on the bus at the time of the shooting, which was reported at 5:26 p.m., Mr. Kelly said.

Two other Richmond County buses transporting Davidson Fine Arts students back to Augusta from the chorus tryout had left before the bus that was shot.

Gwinnett County police and EMS personnel were called to the scene and treated the injured student.

All students were placed at the front of the bus for the rest of the trip home, arriving back in Augusta about 9:30 p.m., Mr. Svehla said.

Richmond County school safety Lt. Richard Roundtree inspected the bus Monday and found no projectile. He determined there likely was just one entry point into the back bus window.

Reach Preston Sparks at (706) 828-3851 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.