Parents Alarmed by Early Morning Shooting Near School Bus Stop in Norristown

Parents are concerned after a shooting incident near a school bus stop in Norristown this morning scared students who were getting on the bus for school at the time.

Official incident reports are currently unavailable, but according to Norristown Police Chief Russell Bono, his officers responded to a call of shots fired sometime around 8:30 a.m. this morning on the corner of West Airy and Barbadoes streets.

Police say two black males jumped from a dark green or possibly black Lincoln Navigator and fired three or four shots through the front windows of an abandoned first-floor apartment at 151 West Airy Street. The suspects then fled in their vehicle which a witness reported had a broken driver's side mirror.

The apartment was not occupied at the time and Chief Bono reports that police have contacted the property owner. The apartment was reportedly secure and there was no evidence of anyone living in or occupying the apartment.

No one was reported injured in the incident, but children were boarding a school bus bound for Whitehall Elementary School at the corner of West Airy and Norris streets only one block away at the time. Police say they may want to interview those children at some point. 

Some parents contacted Norristown Patch and reported that an automated call from Principal Hoskins at Whitehall informed them of the incident and assured them that their children were safe at school and that counselors would be available all day for children to talk to.

Mrs. Hoskins told Patch she felt it was important that parents get clear and correct information regarding the incident, rather than hear second-hand reports later in the day. 

No suspects are in custody at this time and police are still investigating the incident. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to cal the Norristown Police Department at 610-270-0977.