Boy, 7, Is Shot in the Face While Riding Bus Home From School

A 7-year-old boy was shot in the face Friday afternoon while riding in a school bus that was dropping off students in the scrubby, remote area around Lake Los Angeles, authorities said.

The unidentified boy was airlifted to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, where he was treated and released.

Sgt. Adam Ellison of the Lancaster sheriff’s station said two juveniles were taken into custody soon after the shooting. The incident occurred near 167th Street and Mossdale Avenue about 2:50 p.m., said Inspector Sam Padilla of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which sent paramedics to the scene.

“Two kids were seen running into a house, and we searched it,” Ellison said. “We got the two suspects, and then the gun, out of the house.”

Witnesses on the bus reported seeing several people running away from the scene and into the house after the shot was fired. Ellison said initial reports indicated that a BB gun was used.

The gun “wouldn’t even be illegal unless the guy was on probation or something,” said Ellison, adding that he didn’t know whether the juveniles would be charged.

The boy was treated for a cheek injury and released shortly after 5 p.m. His mother thanked the media but offered no further details about the incident or her son.

According to KABC-TV Channel 7, the boy was accompanied on the sheriff’s helicopter by the school’s principal.

The area around Lake Los Angeles has many streets with no houses built on them yet. It has a population of about 12,000.

The site of the shooting was less than 10 miles south of the outer boundary of Edwards Air Force Base and about 15 miles east of Palmdale.