Two more arrests in Chester County school bus shooting

WEST CHESTER – Two of the three remaining suspects in a shooting that attacked a person getting off a Coatesville Area School District school bus as part of revenge for an earlier confrontation have been arrested and charged, according to authorities.

On Sunday, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the Coatesville City Police Department announced the arrest of Gabriel Johnson, 17, and Jose Medina, 20, both of Coatesville, for their alleged involvement in the shooting that occurred last month.

Both are charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, conspiracy and other related charges. Johnson has been charged as an adult. Jaki White-Marshall, 18, was previously charged shortly after the shooting.

Johnson is being held in the Chester County Jail on a $1 million bond set by Magisterial District Judge Gregory Hines at his arraignment on Saturday. His preliminary hearing has been tentatively set for November 20. Information about Meddina’s bail and preliminary hearing was not immediately available. Information about where they were apprehended and the circumstances surrounding their capture were not released.

The fourth person identified as part of the group involved in the shooting remains at large.

Public prosecutor Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said this in a press release. “This is not the end of our investigation. We will continue to work to arrest and convict everyone involved in the shooting of this school bus.”

The criminal complaints filed against the men show that on October 10 at approximately 2:29 p.m., police were dispatched to the area of ​​Hope Avenue and Charles Street for reports of someone shooting at a school bus. Detectives quickly discovered surveillance footage of the shooting that showed four men walking through the intersection – two began shooting down the street and hit the bus.

After an extensive investigation, law enforcement determined that Johnson fired six shots at the school bus and that Medina was one of the individuals present with Johnson during the shooting.

A source with knowledge of the incident said the shooting was in response to a fight between students at Coatesville Area Senior High School that occurred Tuesday.

White-Marshall, 17, of Coatesville, is being held at the Chester County Youth Detention Center on $1 million bail following his arrest Thursday.

White-Marshall, who was identified as a high school student, was also charged with 313 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, recklessly endangering another, simple assault, disorderly conduct and conspiracy. DeBarrena-Sarobe has stated that he will be charged as an adult.

An attorney representing White-Marshall, Vincent Caputo of West Chester, has denied that his client took part in the shooting, saying he was simply there to witness a fight between students at the high school.

Chester County Detectives and Coatesville City Police are the lead investigating agencies. Assistant District Attorney Annie Yoskoski is the assigned prosecutor. If you have any information about this case, please contact Chester County Detectives at 610-344-6866 or Coatesville City Police at 610-384-2300.

To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan, call 610-696-1544.

Originally published: November 11, 2024 at 10:29 am EST