Charges are pending against two teenage gang members who shot at students who had just gotten off a bus Tuesday afternoon, led police on a chase, crashed into another vehicle and later into a utility pole, Chattanooga police said.
Officers are looking for a third suspect, a female, Chattanooga police spokeswoman Officer Rebecca Royval said.
One of the male suspects in custody was involved in a shooting earlier this year at Coolidge Park, she said.
Police responded to a shots-fired call about 2:35 p.m. at 3210 Through St., Royval said. Several juveniles had just gotten off a school bus when a red Ford F-150 occupied by two teenagers wearing bandanas drove by and shot at them six to 10 times, she said.
None of those shot at were injured.
"I thank God that no one was struck by bullets," said Councilman Peter Murphy, whose district includes Through Street, which is off Tunnel Boulevard.
Hugh Reece, community outreach coordinator for the Hamilton County Coalition, said he was "outraged" and "disgusted" by the incident. One of his organization's goals is to stop gang violence, he said.
"What lowlifes would target young kids on a school bus?" he asked. "This is the type of situation where the community leaders need to step to the plate because this needs to stop."
Mattie Robinson, who lives at 3216 Through St., said gang violence had died down recently in the area.
"There has been some in the past, but lately it hasn't been bad," she said.
The truck's description was broadcast over a police radio, Royval said. Officers with the Crime Suppression Unit found it on Windsor Street, she said.
The suspects sped off through neighborhoods toward McCallie Avenue, Royval said.
At McCallie Avenue and Willow Street, the suspects struck another vehicle, whose driver was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries, she said.
The teenagers continued to flee in the truck, Royval said.
The suspects lost control of the truck at Willow and Garfield streets, struck a utility pole, then fled on foot.
The two suspects, ages 16 and 17, were caught and two handguns were found on one of them, Royval said. They were taken to Erlanger hospital, she said.
That's when the female suspect took off and has not yet been found, police said.
The investigation is continuing, Royval said.
Murphy said he hopes the juveniles will be "moved from Juvenile Court to adult court."
"It's difficult when you're dealing with juveniles," he said. "Though they're 16 and 17, presumably the district attorney will charge them with attempted murder and aggravated assault and, I would think, reckless endangerment, also. I would think all those charges would be appropriate."
The 16-year-old was charged in connection with a shooting at Coolidge Park on March 28, Royval said. In that incident, he was charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder, five counts of aggravated assault and one count of felony reckless endangerment.