Posted on 12/18/2003 1:33:34 PM PST by flutters
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Two children were on a bus that was reportedly struck by a bullet Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon, according to serial shooting task force authorities.
More than 200 South-Western City School buses sat idle Thursday after two bullet holes were discovered in its fleet of buses.
The second-largest school district in Central Ohio sits along Interstate 270 in southern Franklin County -- the same area that has been targeted in a string of recent shootings.
The task force that has been investigating the shootings met with the school district's superintendent, NewsChannel 4's Erin Tate reported.
Franklin County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Steve Martin said forensic experts believe the buses were hit by bullets, but that no forensic evidence was found to compare the shootings to other bullets the task force has recovered from other incidents.
One bus was hit at about 7 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Alkire and Demorest roads near Interstate 270. No children were on the bus at the time of the shooting, Martin said.
The second bus was hit at 4:24 p.m. Tuesday or Wednesday at Ransburg Avenue and Brown Road, Martin said. Two children were on the bus. The driver was not sure which date the incident occurred, but remembered hearing an unusual noise.
Both buses were hit near the right rear tail light.
The report of bullets hitting the buses forced the district to cancel classes Thursday. The announcement was made late Wednesday night, but not everyone knew about it until they attempted to drop their children off at school on Thursday morning.
"I just found out that schools were closed because of the shootings and I didn't know anything about it," said parent Traci Jahn.
More than 20,000 students stayed home from school, so investigators could comb the district's buses for bullet marks.
During a routine check of buses Wednesday, mechanics found a suspicious dent near the tail light of one of the buses. Later in the day, a bus driver detected a similar mark on another bus.
Taking no chances, Superintendent Kirk Hamilton canceled classes.
"This is in keeping with our responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment for our students and staff," Hamilton said.
The task force met bus drivers in hopes of finding more clues to crack its case. School administrators had not determined whether classes would be canceled Friday, the day before the district's winter break.
City Leaders Give Support
Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman and Franklin County Commissioner Dewey Stokes said Thursday that they have full confidence in law enforcement's efforts to catch the serial shooter or shooters that have been targeting vehicles, homes and other buildings since May.
The two spoke Thursday at the task force's daily news briefing.
"This is a team effort," Coleman said. "Every step is being taken to protect the citizens and travelers who drive through our city."
Coleman also said residents should not stop calling in leads to the tip line, no matter how insignificant they might seem.
"Your information is helpful," Coleman said. "Nothing is too small."
Other Incidents Investigated
The task force has investigated several areas where gunshots were heard and bullets found.
NewsChannel 4's Beth Dal Ponte reported that investigators were focusing their attention on homes and cars, wherever they find bullet holes.
On Wednesday, a homeowner living at 917 Brown Rd. found signs of a hole in the front of a house. Martin said the hole appeared to have been made by a pellet or other object. He said authorities do not believe the incident is related to the serial shootings.
Right next door sits another house that was linked Wednesday to the Nov. 25 fatal shooting on I-270.
Neighbors told NewsChannel 4 that they heard three shots fired at about midnight. Two bullet holes were found in the home.
"I heard three shots. Bam! Bam! Bam!" neighbor Charles Hall said. "I pulled the curtain back, looked out and there was a car going south on Brown Road. It was dark. All I could see was taillights. But it was going pretty fast."
On Wednesday night, not too far from Brown Road, a resident reported hearing gunshots along Dyer Road. It was unclear as to whether a specific home was targeted or hit.
A bullet hole was found early Thursday in a pickup truck, located at the Midway Beverage Drive Thru, located at Harrisburg Pike and Eakin Road, NewsChannel 4's Beth Dal Ponte reported. Authorities checked out the vehicle but were unsure who owned the truck.
Shortly after 4 a.m. Thursday, police were called to a home on Tanis Drive, in the south end. A man living there said he heard gunshots coming from the woods behind his home. I-270 sits behind the woods, Dal Ponte reported.
Anyone with information in the shootings should call the shooting tip line at (614) 462-4646.
Watch NewsChannel 4 and refresh nbc4columbus.com for continuing coverage.
This reinforces my growing belief that the weapon is a handgun or handgun caliber carbine (probably 9mm). A bus may have a somewhat heavier metal than most cars, but not heavy enough to cause a rifle bullet to bounce off.
Too close for friggin comfort...
My house is off of Alkire between Demorest and 62
Our RINO governor will have none of that. He'll veto any concealed carry law that makes it to his desk. Of course he's nice and safe with his 24/7 armed security, but the rest of us can go get bent.
Looks like Franklin County is littered with people from FR! I'm in Grove City, about 2 miles from 270.
The "littered" term just seems more fit for some other sites we could all think of.HeHe
One report mentioned a blue or teal vehicle. I don't think we can put much stock in type/color. I can't remember the source where the information came from, but I'll look for it tomorrow and ping you or FReep mail you.
New reports of I-270 shootings
Friday night was busy for the task force searching for the highway shooter. A salt truck driver believes he may have been the target of the I-270 shooter.
The driver says he was on 270 near williams road when a van pulled up beside him. He says he then heard something that sounded like gun fire. He went back to the barn and called police. Investigators found no bullet holes or any sign of damage that could have been caused by a bullet.
Linsay Mendicino of the Ohio Department of Transportation says the driver did the right thing. "We are all a bit jumpy, and we will all be watching."
The driver of the truck was shaken but continued his route. Task force investigators responded to two other calls where shots were fired last night. None of the calls have been linked to the 270 shootings at this time.
http://www.wbns10tv.com/news/archive/122003local6704.php?story=122003local6704
Do you remember the lady that called 911 - she was panic sticken - didn't she say the perps were driving a tan van? I'll have to look for the report.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.