JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- First Coast News has learned that the usual driver of bus 915, who at the time was acting as the bus monitor when two girls were shot last Thursday, was not questioned by police at the time of the shooting and still hasn't been.
On Sunday FCN spoke exclusively with Jerell Anderson, a man who trusted First Coast News to tell the traumatic story of the shooting. We confirmed his identity with one of the victims, another student, and also checked his identity on his bus card and driver's license. But three days later JSO called FCN to tell us we had our facts wrong. Spokesperson Melissa Bujeda said Anderson was not on the bus the day of the shooting. Another spokesperson later backed away from that assertion -- saying it's possible Anderson was in fact on the bus but not interviewed that day.
"This spatter is from one of the students that was shot saying crying Mr. A help me," said Anderson pointing to his blood covered shorts.
He still has the shorts he says he was wearing when shots were fired into bus 915.
"I'll be discarding these because the memories of that day," said Anderson.
Memories of a day that started like any other. At 2 p.m. in the afternoon he picks up his first group of kids at Grand Park Alternative School. Then students from Mattie V Rutherford and James Weldon Johnson Training and Career Center.
At 3 p.m. rolled around and he called dispatch.
"I had called them due to the fact there were smoke bombs on the bus. Due to their safety and my safety there is no way I could drive," said Anderson.
An hour later officers came and didn't search the bus.
"I was told it was not a police matter."
Jim from this automotive shop confirms he saw Anderson walk outside of the bus after the incident.
"He was upset he was on phone with somebody…all I can remember is him saying he wanted to just walk out and he was done," said Jim.
Anderson says a new driver was called and he became a second bus monitor and they continue the route. About 30 minutes later at 4:30, shots were fired into his bus filled with kids. One of the victims runs to Mr. Anderson.
"[Shakayla Singleton] was bleeding from open wounds...her mouth. Cupping her blood in her hand as its dripping to the floor," said Anderson.
JSO responds and interviews the bus driver, one monitor.
Yet, on the day of the shooting Superintendent Doctor Nikolai Vitti addressed the media.
"We had two bus monitors on the bus today, in addition to the bus driver."
So, what about the second monitor Vitti mentions? Vitti knew there were three employees on the bus.The third...Mr. Anderson. And employees from businesses who witnessed the bus stop on Blanding after the shooting say they saw Mr. A visibly upset and clearly connected to the crime scene.
But apparently, JSO didn't and called our newsroom questioning the validity of our story saying Mr. A wasn't on the bus when he says he was.
"I'm furious I'm upset words can't describe how I feel. We are going back and forth about who was there or not but we are forgetting about the matter at hand. Two kids were shot," said Anderson.
JSO spokesperson Christian Hancock said quote, "we should have [interviewed]" but couldn't explain why an interview with Mr. A slipped through the cracks of this investigation.
We reached out to JSO for an interview but they declined.
As for the girls who were shot, Shakayla Singleton is out of the hospital. The other student Ayana Sherman is still at UF Health. We reached out to her mother and she says her daughter is doing better.
