MIAMI -- A teenaged student has been arrested for the accidental fatal shooting of a 13-year-old girl on board a school bus Tuesday morning.
Miami-Dade Police have charged 15-year-old Jordyn Alexander Howe of Homestead with manslaughter and carrying a concealed firearm in the death of Lourdes Guzman-DeJesus, who was airlifted to Miami Children's Hospital from the private charter school bus but did not survive.
According to the arrest affidavit, Howe pulled a gun from his backpack and began displaying it on the bus. The gun discharged once, striking Guzman in the neck just before 7 a.m.
Howe was taken into custody and the gun was recovered on scene when first responders arrived at the scene near SW 296 Street and SW 137 Avenue in Homestead.
“Obviously based...on the investigation and the evidence and based on interviews we conducted with him, it does appear to be an accident," Miami-Dade Det. Roy Rutland told CBSMiami. "I can assure you there was a comprehensive interview done regarding that gun and its whereabouts and where it originated, and based on what we’re hearing it doesn’t appear that anyone else will be charged at this time."
MDPD spokesman Det. Alvaro Zabaleta said Guzman was headed to Palm Glades Preparatory Academy, and her 7-year-old sister, who was also on the bus, attends Summerville Advantage Academy. The charter school bus also services Somerset Silver Palms, a K-12 school where grief counselors were deployed to help students.
About eight other children were on the bus when Guzman was shot, Zabaleta said. Students who witnessed the shooting were transferred to the department's homicide bureau for questioning.
“We're dealing with small children so the questioning process is going to be a lot different,” Zabaleto said Tuesday afternoon. “The children, they're already shaken up over what they had to witness and on top of that you have to question them. So this is going to take a very slow and tedious process.”
"They told me I'm going to have to wait until the investigation is over to be able take [my children home]," said one mother at the scene, adding, "I'm very lucky they're okay."
Miami-Dade Police said Howe provided a sworn statement before being transported to Miami-Dade Juvenile Assessment Center.