13-year old Florida girl shot and killed on school bus by 15-year old boy

Lourdes Guzman, age 13

What are kids with guns doing on school buses? A 13 year old Florida girl was shot and killed by a fellow student while riding the school bus this morning. From an article:

A 13-year-old girl who was shot on a school bus Tuesday morning has died, and a male student is being held for questioning, Miami-Dade police said. The suspect’s age was not made public.

The victim, a student at Miami's Palm Glades Preparatory Academy, had been airlifted to Miami Children's Hospital from the scene of the shooting. She was on a private school bus that was en route to three different schools when the incident happened, Javier Baez, spokesman for the Miami-Dade Police Department, said.

"They were able to immediately determine that the shooting occurred inside the bus, and that the alleged shooter was also inside the bus," Miami-Dade Detective Alvaro Zabaleta said at a press conference Tuesday. "He was immediately taken into custody. He was detained, placed in a police car. We were able to recover the firearm."

From another article:

Miami-Dade Police have charged 15-year-old Jordyn Alexander Howe of Homestead with manslaughter and carrying a concealed firearm in the death of Lourdes Guzman, who was airlifted to Miami Children's Hospital but did not survive. 

According to the arrest affidavit, Howe pulled a gun from his backpack and began displaying it on the bus. He then fired it once, striking Guzman just before 7 a.m. 

Howe was taken into custody and the gun was recovered on scene when first responders arrived at the scene near SW 296 Street and SW 137 Avenue in Homestead.

Further information from another article reveals more about this shooting incident:

Detective Roy Rutland said Jordyn Alexander Howe has been charged with manslaughter and carrying a concealed firearm in the death of Lourdes Guzman-DeJesus, 13. Rutland said through the course of their investigation and questioning of a “remorseful” Howe, it was determined that the shooting was accidental. Howe, who is a student at Somerset Academy Silver Palms in Homestead, will be charged as a juvenile.

“Obviously based on the charge manslaughter and based on the investigation and the evidence and based on interviews we conducted with him, it does appear to be an accident,” said Det. Rutland. ”I can assure you there was a coomprehensive interview done regarding that gone and its whereabouts and where it originated and based on what we’re hearing it doesn’t appear that anyone else will be charged at this time.”

Every gun in the hands of a child must first pass through the hands of an adult.

UPDATE (11/23/12):  From a follow-up article:

“How did it happen? How did he have it on him? How did nobody notice?” asked the girl’s mother, who identifies herself on Facebook as Ady DeJesus. “I want answers myself.”

DeJesus said her daughter wanted to be a lawyer, was responsible and good at school.

The boy was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon. He waived his right to appear in court Wednesday morning and will remain in a juvenile detention center. He is not being identified by The Associated Press because of his age. 

ADDENDUM (11/23/12):  An interesting article that focuses on this case, calling upon the governor of Florida to repeal the law forbidding pediatricians from discussing guns and gun safety.