Student Shot on S.F. Bus Dies

A 15-year-old San Francisco high school student who was shot while traveling on a city bus to his after-school tutoring job died Saturday, according to authorities.

DeShawn Dawson was shot in the head Thursday afternoon as he rode through the city’s Mission District on his way to his job at a Boys & Girls Club, police said.

Witnesses told police that the shooting occurred during a brawl involving several other young people.

San Francisco Police Officer Mark Stull said that Dawson, a student at Balboa High, was a bystander, not an intended victim.

Dawson died Saturday just after 9 p.m. at San Francisco General Hospital where he had been on life support, said hospital spokeswoman Leslie Dubbin.

Police arrested a 16-year-old student at Burton High School in connection with the shooting. The boy, whose name was not released because he is a minor, could be charged with murder.

The shooting caused police officials to increase patrols at Balboa and Burton high schools beginning Friday, said Lt. John Sanford.

At Balboa, officials said they had noticed an increase in clashes among students on and off campus.

In an attempt to curb growing violence, Dawson’s aunt appealed for calm.

“I want the children to know I just want there to be peace,” said Stacey Mays.

Several children have been fatally shot in San Francisco this year.

A 2-month-old boy died after being hit by a bullet meant for his father in September. Another young student was shot while waiting at a bus stop on Potrero Hill.

Sanford said that school officials, fearing additional retaliatory violence as a result of the most recent shooting, canceled several weekend football games and other activities at 11 schools.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.