Student shot on school bus dies

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (WSVN) -- Miami-Dade Police said a teenage girl, who was shot on a school bus, has died. The alleged shooter is in police custody.

The shooting happened right after the intersection of Southwest 296 Street and 137 Avenue, around 6:45 a.m. Tuesday. "Officers responded and that's when they discovered that there was a 13-year-old girl suffering from a gunshot wound," said Miami-Dade Police Detective Alvaro Zabaleta. "They were immediately able to determine that the subject or the shots came within the bus and he was able to be detained and taken into custody."

The victim was airlifted to Miami Children's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police have only described the alleged shooter as a male, but they have not released his identity. A motive behind the shooting is unknown at this time. A gun was recovered from the scene.

Miami-Dade Police said the victim was a student at Palm Glades Preparatory Academy.

Authorities said several other students were on the bus at the time of the shooting, including the victim's 7-year-old sister. "Thank God, none of the other children, approximately eight of them, they were not hurt," said Zabaleta.

Police said all the parents of the students involved in this incident have been notified. "If you have not received a phone call from any of the investigators, you're child is not involved in this incident, your child is safe," said Zabaleta.

Zabaleta reassured worried parents that all the schools involved are safe. "We made contact with all of the schools, everything is fine and none of them have been placed on shut down, so everything is OK, no need for panic," he said.

Authorities have closed 137 Avenue from SW 288th Street and access to SW 137 Avenue from Waterstone Way as police investigate.

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