As a 16-year-old suspect awaits charges in connection with a Tuesday shooting at a bus stop, new evidence may bring charges against him — for the second time — from the Coolidge Park shooting in March.
Lonta Burress was arrested by Chattanooga police along with a 17-year-old suspect following a Tuesday afternoon shooting at a school bus stop at 3210 Through St.
A teenage girl turned herself in Wednesday to Chattanooga police in connection with the shooting.
“This one 16-year-old, this is the second time he’s taken a gun and shot into a crowd,” said Chattanooga Police Chief Bobby Dodd.
Premeditated attempted murder charges are likely to be filed against Burress for the bus stop shooting, Dodd said. New evidence gained through investigative work likely will result in new charges against him in connection with the Coolidge Park shooting, Dodd said.
Juvenile Court officials said Burress previously was arrested and charged in connection with the March 27 shooting that injured five in Coolidge Park. He was charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault and one count of felony reckless endangerment.
Although juveniles’ names usually are not released by authorities, the severity of the charges against Burress gives the court the leeway to reveal his name.
The charges against Burress in connection with the Coolidge Park shooting were dismissed during a July trial when the only witness for the prosecution couldn’t identify the suspect, according to a juvenile court official.
Calls for comment from the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office were not returned Wednesday.
Two adult suspects in the Coolidge Park shooting, Anthony Frieson, 18, and Taurean Patillo, 19, are scheduled for appearances Friday in Hamilton County Criminal Court in that incident.
Just before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, police say Burress, a 17-year-old boy, a driver and female drove by the bus stop in a stolen red Ford F-150 truck. Two black males wearing bandannas opened fire on the stop, shooting six to 10 rounds from a pair of .38-caliber revolvers.
Crime Suppression Unit officers spotted the truck on the 2300 block of Windsor Street. The suspects led police on a chase to McCallie Avenue and Willow Street, where the truck struck another vehicle but continued on until the driver lost control and hit a utility pole at Willow and Garfield streets, police said.
All but the driver fled on foot, but police caught the two males. They and the driver were transported to local hospitals and treated for minor injuries sustained in the crash, police said.
The 17-year-old girl who turned herself in to police on Wednesday was interviewed and taken to Erlanger hospital for injuries she suffered after hitting the utility pole, police said.
When released from the hospital the teenager faces three charges of aggravated assault, one for felony possession of a firearm while committing a dangerous felony and another for evading arrest.
The 17-year-old boy’s name could not be released by the Juvenile Court because he had not been charged officially, court spokesman Chris Albright said.
Dodd said the shooting targeted teens on the bus but no one was injured.
It’s likely, Dodd said, that someone knew ahead of time that the shooting was going to happen.
“It’s the same thing I’ve been telling people for a while: We need the community’s help,” he said. “I guarantee you somebody, probably an adult, knew that they had the truck and weapons and they were going to do this thing.”
Police cruisers were at the bus stop Wednesday afternoon.
“Right now, our greatest interest is in monitoring the activities of the involved individuals,” said Sgt. Jerri Weary, department spokeswoman.
Contact staff writer Todd South at tsouth@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6347.