PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – ONE more minor has been arrested by police in Sint Maarten following an incident last Friday (Jan. 29) in which shots were fired from a school bus and hit a passing vehicle.
According to SMN News, gang violence between persons on the bus and a rival gang outside erupted sometime between 1 and 2 p.m. when a group of students attacked the bus in the Cul de Sac area. The students reportedly threw bottles at the bus as it passed through on its way to Philipsburg from South Reward.
Witnesses reported hearing two gunshots, one of which was believed to have come from the bus.
The bus driver attempted to “keep the situation under control by continuing to drive towards Philipsburg”, stated SMN News.
Subsequently, police dispatched units and conducted a thorough search of the bus after stopping it on Bush Road.
According to Police Spokesman Ricardo Henson, a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver with five bullets was found in a female student’s school bag. Officers conducting the search also recovered one spent bullet cartridge, two machetes and three knives.
While one vehicle received damage to its windshield in the shootout, no one was injured in the exchange.
Nine students in total were taken into police custody for questioning on the day of the incident, but eight were subsequently released on Monday (Feb. 1). Among those released was the girl whose bag the gun was found in, as it is believed that another student put the gun in her bag after the shooting took place.
It was reported that another minor was arrested over the weekend in relation to the incident, but no further details have been released regarding the ongoing investigation at this time.
