CHICAGO — A Chicago man is accused of leaving a gun on a school bus, which a boy found inside an unattended bag and fired one shot that pierced a window on the vehicle as classes were being dismissed, authorities said.
Police said that Steven Dixon Jr., 22, was charged with one felony count of possessing or carrying a firearm on school property and misdemeanor counts of child endangerment and reckless conduct, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Dixon allegedly left the bag on the school bus, which was at Minnie Miñoso Academy in the Bridgeport neighborhood of the city, at about 2:25 p.m. CT on Monday, according to the newspaper.
A child fired a gun after a man left it on a school bus on the city's South Side on Monday afternoon, Chicago police said. https://t.co/Jm2vhbCH4u
— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) September 15, 2026
Police said the 12-year-old boy found the bag, removed the gun and fired one round, hitting one of the bus’ windows, WLS reported.
WFLD reported that Dixon is a school bus aide. School officials have not confirmed his employment status.
Dixon then allegedly took the bag and fled, officials told the Sun-Times. No injuries were reported.
The school was placed on lockdown but parents were still able to pick up their children, WFLD reported.
Carrie Cole, the principal at Minnie Miñoso Academy, sent a letter to parents about the incident, according to WLS.
“Today at dismissal, there was a shot fired from inside a school bus transporting students from our school,” Cole wrote, according to the television station. “The shot hit a window on the bus. Thankfully, no one was injured, and all students are safe.”
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