CPS Bus Aide Accused Of Leaving Gun Where Boy Fire Shot Released With Conditions

CHICAGO—A bus aide accused of leaving a gun in an unattended bag on a school bus turned himself in after a 12-year-old student found a gun in the bag and fired it at the bus window, prosecutors said.

Steven Dixon, 22, of Chicago, appeared Wednesday before Judge John Hook at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building on a felony charge of possession of a firearm on school grounds. Dixon is also facing three misdemeanor counts of child endangerment, and one misdemeanor count of reckless conduct.

Around 2:30 p.m. Monday, Chicago police responded to a shots fired call that occurred on a CPS bus outside of Minnie Minoso Academy in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. The 911 caller said the shots were fired by a male student. The student was described as having special needs and had taken a bus aide’s firearm, prosecutors said.

When CPD officers arrived in the 3500 block of South Wallace, they met the bus driver, who prosecutors said told officers he had a new bus assistant, later identified as Dixon.

As a bus aide, prosecutors said Dixon assisted children with special needs on and off the bus. The bus driver told police that a student found a gun and fired one round at the school bus window, prosecutors said.

At the time the gun was fired, prosecutors said three children were aboard the bus, including a 12-year-old, 13-year-old and a 10-year-old, who were autistic and non-verbal.

The bus driver said that Dixon had stepped off the bus when he heard a gunshot, prosecutors said, and discovered a 12-year-old male student holding a gun. Prosecutors said the bus driver confiscated the weapon when he observed Dixon’s open backpack near the student.

When Dixon returned to the bus and asked what happened, prosecutors said the bus driver confronted Dixon. He asked Dixon if he brought a gun, when Dixon is said to have grabbed the gun and backpack and fled.

Surveillance video from inside the bus captured Dixon assisting the children on the bus and then leaving momentarily before returning to the bus after the gunshot. Dixon allegedly grabbed a white backpack before taking off on foot.

Another surveillance video captured the three children boarding the bus and starting to sit down. The 12-year-old went to the third row and is seen with a cell phone. Seconds later, prosecutors said the boy appeared looking down and manipulating something on the seat before pulling up and discharging the gun, hitting the window.

No injuries were reported, but video showed the gun being fired directly above the head of the child sitting in front of the boy, the prosecutor said.

On Tuesday, prosecutors said Dizon turned himself in at the 9th District police station, where he was placed into custody. Police said Dixon turned over a Glock 19 and a backpack, which had one spent shell casing. Dixon was also found to have a valid FOID and CCL.

Prosecutors sought to detain Dixon while his case was pending. Judge Hook denied that request and released Dixon with conditions, including no contact with children not his own, and turning in his firearm to authorities.