2008 Woodie Awards
Silver Line bus pierced by bullets on Herald Street
Christina DerHagopian
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: News
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Gunshots shattered the rear window of a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Silver Line bus bound for Dudley Square as it drove near Herald Street in the South End last Friday night, endangering about 40 passengers on board, including an Emerson student. There were no reported injuries, MBTA Spokesperson Lydia Rivera said.
It is not known if the bullets fired were strays or had been directly aimed at the bus. Rivera said the bullets came from outside the bus.
She said the MBTA is interested in eyewitness accounts, as the driver did not notice the damage until he returned to the garage.
Anna Haas, a junior musical theatre major, was heading home when she heard what she thought sounded like gunfire coming from the back of the bus.
"Normally I sit in the back and just listen to my iPod, but for some reason I decided to sit up front," Haas said.
Then she heard a loud bang, followed by another.
"I didn't know what happened until I got off and saw the bullet holes in the window," she said.
Despite Rivera's belief that the bullets were fired from outside, Haas said she was sure the noises were gunshots coming from inside the bus. Immediately before the shots were fired, Haas said there was a lot of commotion from the rear of the bus.
"I heard someone yell, 'Don't close the door! Don't close the door!'" she said.
Haas said she was frightened for her life during the incident.
"People started screaming and some held their companions closer," Haas said. "I just acted right away and squeezed through the doors as they were closing [at the next stop]."
Haas said the bus driver seemed unaware of the incident and kept on driving.
Four other people got off with her at the Herald Street stop on the bus bound for Dudley Square. Haas said they didn't speak English, but also appeared shaken.
"I just ran and crouched down in a corner of a parking lot and started crying," Haas said.
It is not known if the bullets fired were strays or had been directly aimed at the bus. Rivera said the bullets came from outside the bus.
She said the MBTA is interested in eyewitness accounts, as the driver did not notice the damage until he returned to the garage.
Anna Haas, a junior musical theatre major, was heading home when she heard what she thought sounded like gunfire coming from the back of the bus.
"Normally I sit in the back and just listen to my iPod, but for some reason I decided to sit up front," Haas said.
Then she heard a loud bang, followed by another.
"I didn't know what happened until I got off and saw the bullet holes in the window," she said.
Despite Rivera's belief that the bullets were fired from outside, Haas said she was sure the noises were gunshots coming from inside the bus. Immediately before the shots were fired, Haas said there was a lot of commotion from the rear of the bus.
"I heard someone yell, 'Don't close the door! Don't close the door!'" she said.
Haas said she was frightened for her life during the incident.
"People started screaming and some held their companions closer," Haas said. "I just acted right away and squeezed through the doors as they were closing [at the next stop]."
Haas said the bus driver seemed unaware of the incident and kept on driving.
Four other people got off with her at the Herald Street stop on the bus bound for Dudley Square. Haas said they didn't speak English, but also appeared shaken.
"I just ran and crouched down in a corner of a parking lot and started crying," Haas said.
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