Shots fired at Kingston Transit buses results in five charges for local 18-year-old

A local man has been arrested and charged after two Kingston Transit buses were shot at on Virginia and Guthrie Streets on evening of Friday, Feb. 22, 2019.

The incidents occurred within minutes of each other, beginning at approximately 6:26 p.m. when a bus driving a regular, scheduled route in the city’s north end had three of its passenger side windows shot at. As a result, the windows were pieced and cracked.

Then, at 6:28 p.m., a second bus driving in the same area, also on a regular, scheduled route was also shot at, resulting in three of the bus windows shattering and showering glass onto passengers inside.

Kingston Transit contacted Kingston Police, who responded and, after a lengthy investigation, determined where the shots had been fired from. According to Kingston Police, further investigation determined that an air pistol had been used to commit both offences.

On Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, Kingston Police attended a north end address at approximately 12:25 a.m. and arrested the man accused in the incidents.

The 18-year-old Kingston man was charged with discharging a firearm, being reckless as to the life or safety of another person, use of a firearm to commit an indictable offence, possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace, and two counts of mischief.

According to Jeremy DaCosta, general manager for Kingston Transit, there were no injuries as a result of the incident. Kingston city buses and bus shelters have been involved in several such incidents over the past few years. The damage costs for those incidents can range from several hundred dollars for the replacement of a window, to thousands for bus shelter repairs and replacements.