A busload of Berkeley elementary students witnessed the shootings on Sacramento Street this morning that killed one man and seriously injured another, according to BUSD officials.
A school bus carrying about 40 students on their way to Cragmont Elementary School was driving on Sacramento Street near Russell around 8:43 am when two assailants fired numerous bullets into two men walking on the street.
One man was killed and another was seriously injured. There was blood flowing down the street after the shooting.
“Some students did witness it,” said Susan Craig, the director of student services. “Those students did receive onsite counseling.”
Craig said she did not know exactly how many of the students on the bus saw the shooting, but said it was at least a few.
“It’s terrible,” she said.
The bus driver did get all of the students safely to school, said Craig.
There were also many students at BHS, King, and other Berkeley schools who were related to the two men who were shot. Many of them found out about the deaths by cell phone calls and text messages. BUSD also provided counselors to those students, said Craig.
Neighbors and other knowledgeable sources have identified the dead man as Gary Ferguson Jr. The injured man is Larry Belle, according to a source. One of Ferguson’s stepson’s is apparently the son of Belle.
