A tragic event unfolded in Pennsylvania on Tuesday morning when a 13-year-old girl shot herself on a school bus. The incident, which occurred near the intersection of 49th Street North and 18th Avenue North, prompted an urgent response from authorities. According to the St. Petersburg Police Department, the call came in at 9:22 a.m., and the girl, who remains unidentified, was among 20 other students on board at the time. Fortunately, no other passengers were injured.
After the shooting, the teen was quickly transported to John Hopkins All Children Hospital, where she remains in stable condition. While authorities have yet to confirm where the girl shot herself, they noted that she had brought the firearm with her onto the bus. Investigators are now working to determine the source of the gun and whether the shooting was intentional, told the Mirror.
The school bus was en route to Tyrone Middle School when the incident took place. In response, Pinellas County Schools issued a statement underscoring the district’s commitment to the safety and well-being of its students and staff. “The well-being and academic success of every student remain the focus of Pinellas County Schools and Tyrone Middle School. The district’s Student Services counselors, social workers, and school-based team members were on-site at the school today to assist students and staff,” the statement read. They also assured parents and the community that additional support would be available for as long as necessary.
The statement emphasized the district’s commitment to campus safety, encouraging anyone with safety concerns to use the “Say Something” anonymous reporting app.
This incident comes amid heightened concern over school safety in the region. Just last August, a series of threats led to the arrests of two teenagers in Florida. In one instance, 14-year-old Cole Thomas posted a violent message on Snapchat directed at Richard O. Jacobson Technical High School, where he threatened to “shoot up the school” if anyone “looked at him the wrong way.” Thomas later claimed it was meant as a joke to calm his nerves before his first day. He was arrested and charged with written threats to kill or conduct a mass shooting.
That same day, a 15-year-old girl from Hillsborough County was also arrested after posting a similar threat on Instagram aimed at Gaither High School. The post resulted in charges of unlawful use of a communication device and threats to commit a mass shooting. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister expressed disappointment, noting the gravity of such actions, even when intended as jokes, and praised law enforcement for handling the threats promptly.
In the wake of these events, school districts and law enforcement continue to stress the importance of vigilance and the availability of resources to address safety concerns.