"I'm completely in shock. I'm devastated. I'm trying to hold it together," said Lisa, victim's mother.
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This mom, who asked Action News not to identify her, fears for her 16-year-old son's safety after he became target practice for a classmate with a BB gun.
Lisa says her son was riding the school bus from Eastern Technology School to Cheltenham High School Thursday morning, when another student sat down near him.
Lisa says, "And proceeded to take out the BB gun and started shooting at him, and my son had to use his book bag to shield himself."
He was struck 9 times on his left leg and arm. His father says no one on the bus reported it and neither did his son until later that evening.
"He's traumatized and intimidated by the guy, and supposedly the friends he had, all of them were carrying BB guns in school bags on school property," victim's father Jose said.
Police say this is the third BB gun shooting in Cheltenham Township this week.
On Tuesday evening, a 14-year-old boy was shot 3 times in Elkins Park.
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The next day, a 19-year-old was struck in the eye a block from the high school in Wyncote.
The police chief says both victims reported the shooters were driving a dark sedan and wearing masks.
Cheltenham Township Police Chief John Frye said, "Our patrol officers have the description of the vehicle and are conducting heavy surveillance in these areas."
Chief Frye says investigators have identified the 16-year-old who fired the gun on the bus and are working to see if he's connected with the other two.
To make matters worse, these parents question whether school officials are taking it seriously.
They have yet to meet with school leaders in person. They also say the suspect in Thursday's incident took the bus to school Friday. Their son stayed home.
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"They were notified yesterday about the incident, and it seems to me you would stop a predator or bully in this case from going to school and possibly shooting somebody else," Jose said.
The victim's parents are not sure when their son will return to school or if he will ride the bus again.
The 16-year-old suspect faces aggravated assault charges.
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