Police have 13-year-old Lourdes Guzman-DeJesus's shooter in custody

Nov 21, 2012 07:50 GMT  ·  By

Police are ruling the death of 13-year-old Lourdes Guzman-DeJesus from Miami, Florida an accident. The student found herself on a private school bus when she was fatally shot by a classmate, at around 6:45 a.m., on Tuesday, November 20.

Police have 13-year-old DeJesus's shooter in custody, and ruled the death accidental. Jordyn Alexander Howe of Homestead had carried a weapon on the bus and was showing it off to his classmates when the gun discharged, police reports say.

“Obviously based...on the investigation and the evidence and based on interviews we conducted with him, it does appear to be an accident.

“I can assure you there was a comprehensive interview done regarding that gun and its whereabouts and where it originated, and based on what we’re hearing it doesn’t appear that anyone else will be charged at this time,” Miami-Dade Det. Roy Rutland states.

15-year-old Howe was a student at Somerset Academy Silver Palms in Homestead. CBS Miami reports that he will be charged as a juvenile. He was arrested for manslaughter and for carrying a concealed firearm.

“We have a male student who is in custody who appears to be the shooter,” Toronto Sun quotes Miami-Dade Police Detective Javier Baez as saying.

The shooting took place as other 8 students found themselves on the bus. The vehicle was traveling to the Homestead area, in southwest Miami-Dade County.

According to Huffington Post, Guzman's 7-year-old sister was among the other students besides her, when she was shot. Guzman attended Palm Glades Preparatory Academy, and her sister was on her way to Summerville Advantage Academy.

She was flown to Miami Children’s Hospital immediately after the shooting, but passed away in hospital care. Her schoolmates are being questioned by the homicides division at Miami-Dade police, regarding yesterday's events.

“The children, they're already shaken up over what they had to witness and on top of that you have to question them. So this is going to take a very slow and tedious process,” MDPD spokesman Det. Alvaro Zabaleta clarifies.