Bus Stop Shooting Suspect Might Be Charged Today

Detroit (WWJ)  -- Detroit Police say the main suspect in the shooting of seven teenagers at a bus stop could be charged Thursday.

Police Chief James Barren said that 18-year old Jamel Cameron Turner turned himself in to police Wednesday, with his attorney at his side.

Investigators say at least two others are still being sought.  The victims will be paid a visit Thursday morning by Detroit Mayor Dave Bing.

Chief Barren said the shooting could be gang related, but that hasn't been confirmed.  Some witnesses have said the shooting appeared to be random.  

Either way, Barren said that he plans to talk with Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy about ideas to reduce teen gun violence in the city.

"Any program that she has to bring forward, I'd be more than happy to look at it and we can work it out.  I'm open to suggestions from anyone," he said.

Barren said two gunmen fired multiple shots at the bus stop at Warren and Southfield Road on Tuesday afternoon. A third person was waiting in a nearby minivan.

Deputy Police Chief James Tolbert says at least three of the victims still are in the hospital but none has life-threatening injuries. He said police believe semiautomatic handguns were used.

Investigators had been looking at surveillance videotape from a gas station by the bus stop as they sought information about the shootings that happened shortly after summer school classes let out at Cody Ninth Grade Academy Tuesday afternoon.  .  

Witnesses said the men were in a green minivan that pulled up near the intersection and fired as many as 30 bullets.  Police found the minivan a mile-and-a-half from the scene.     

At least five of the teens were students at the school.  WWJ's Vickie Thomas reports crisis counselors were at the school Wednesday morning.  Some students said there needs to be more security at the schools and at bus stops. 

Speaking live on WWJ Wednesday morning, Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manger Robert Bobb said all seven teens are expected to recover.  Listen to more.    

Bobb said the student's studies will not be interrupted and the district will offer home schooling if needed.  Bobb met Tuesday evening with families of five of the seven teenagers shot and told them educational materials and "any other arrangements necessary'' will be made available for their homes.

The shooting is at least the second shooting incident in or near a Detroit school this year and the third within the past eight months.

A 17-year-old non-student was charged in February with assault with intent to murder in a shooting at Central High School. Two other non-students were shot in the school's hallway following an earlier altercation.
  
A 16-year-old Henry Ford student was shot to death and two other students wounded Oct. 20 outside the high school. That shooting followed a fight inside the school.
  
Two 18-year-olds and a 15-year-old have been charged with murder in that case.

Meantime, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says she's planning to meet with Wayne County officials in hopes of starting a school and gang violence program. 

Worthy said the program was drawn up two years ago, but hasn't been put into place because of money issues. 

Worthy says she's hoping to have a pilot program in place by the fall. 

In a statement on the school shootings Worthy said she never understood why it takes a crisis like the bus stop shooting for people to get outraged. She adds Detroit's crime issue needs priority and some real outrage.

"Is one child shot enough? Apparently not. That happens frequently in Detroit and in other places in Wayne County. We see a child shot down on the news and we take another bite of our cereal. We are that immune to violence in this town,'' a statement from Worthy said.  
 
LISTEN LIVE