On September 14, 2026, a 12-year-old boy discharged a firearm that had been left on a school bus near Bridgeport school on Chicago’s South Side, according to the Chicago Police Department. The weapon was placed on the bus by an unidentified man, and the child found the gun and fired it while the bus was in service.
Police said the firearm was discovered on the vehicle before the discharge, but they have not released details about the type of gun or the exact spot on the bus where it was found. No injuries have been reported in connection with the incident, and officials have not confirmed whether any other passengers were present at the time of the discharge.
The Chicago Police Department has opened an investigation to identify the individual who left the gun and to determine how the child obtained access to it. Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage from the bus route and interviewing witnesses, including the driver and any students who may have been on board.
School officials were notified promptly, and the bus service on the route was temporarily halted while investigators secured the scene and collected evidence. Parents of students riding the bus were informed of the situation and advised to keep their children away from the vehicle until the investigation is concluded.
The department has not announced any arrests and has not disclosed further information about the suspect who placed the firearm on the bus. Authorities emphasized that any weapon found on school property must be reported immediately to prevent similar incidents.
The case remains under active investigation, with police urging anyone with additional information to come forward as they continue to piece together the events surrounding the gun’s presence and discharge on the school bus.