APS student says he was shot in eye by BB gun on bus
An Atlanta middle school student was shot in the eye with a BB gun on the bus ride home on Friday afternoon, according to Channel 2 Action News.
Khalil Thomas said he was riding the bus home from Ralph Bunche Middle School Friday when he heard a popping noise and felt something hit his eye. Family members said they were worried Khalil may not regain full vision in his eye and they want the school district to find the student responsible for the mishap.
"It just hurt," Khalil told Channel 2 as he showed his bandaged eye. "I was holding my eye and gave out a little moan." He said he was sitting in his usual seat on the bus heading home when he heard the popping noise. "I heard another pop and ... something just hit me in the eye," he said. It was a BB from a BB gun, according to Channel 2.
Khalil said he couldn't see who was holding the gun when it went off. He ran off the bus when it pulled up at his stop, he said.
"It's sad that we can't even send our children to school to get an education," said his older sister Amelia Thomas, who told Channel 2 she rushed home to take Khalil to the hospital when she got a call about what happened. She said the doctor told her that the BB scratched Khalil's cornea, blurring his vision, according to Channel 2.
The school district is looking into the matter in conjunction with the Atlanta Police Department, according to APS spokesman Keith Bromery.
About the Author
Fran Jeffries is a Newsletter Producer. She joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2005 as an Education Editor. She worked as a Breaking News Editor and Social Media Producer before joining the Newsletter team.
