Two young children were shot and injured when an altercation broke out on a bus they appeared to be riding home from school on Wednesday evening, according to D.C. police.

The two children are 6 years old and 9 years old, one boy and one girl, police chief Robert Contee III said in a press conference on scene. The children were with adults and riding a full 54 Metrobus north on 14th St. NW around 4:00 p.m. when a group of young men got on the bus and began assaulting someone on the bus.

When the fight spilled off of the bus near Fort Stevens Drive, one person involved shot a gun, hitting the two children and an adult, Contee said. The shooting did not injure the person D.C. police believe was the intended target of the fight.

After the shooting, Contee said the children got back on the bus, and the bus operator drove passengers north for a few blocks, away from the scene, according to Metro General Manager Randy Clarke.

“She saw what was happening, quickly got the victims plus others that were in danger back on that bus, quickly moved that bus several blocks, and got those individuals to safety,” Clarke said. “And then medics and police were able to go to the new location of the bus, and then transport and look after those victims,” he said.

“That’s the incredible people that work in Metro day in and day out and serve the community,” he continued. “So I just want to thank her.”

Officers called to the scene met one of the victims at a nearby apartment complex, Contee said.

Both children and the adult were ultimately hospitalized with injuries that “although serious, appear to be non-life threatening,” Contee said.

Speaking at Metro’s Thursday Board meeting, Clarke called the violence “deplorable,” “unacceptable,” and “sickening.” He sought to reassure customers about safety concerns, saying Metro Transit Police were collaborating with D.C. police on the investigation.

“We believe Metro is safe,” he said. “We have an epidemic of gun violence in this country, and unfortunately, from time to time, those random acts spill on to Metro.”

On Wednesday night, Contee and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser both expressed their anger, frustration and sadness over the shooting. Contee called it “unacceptable” and “disturbing.”

Bowser mourned the loss of a childhood sense of safety.

“You know what you’re doing when you’re six years old? You’re coloring on coloring books. You’re playing dress up with your siblings. You’re going to birthday parties. It’s what you do when you’re six years old,” Bowser said. “You shouldn’t be fighting for your life or recovering from a gunshot because of an idiot with a gun who doesn’t care about his own life.”

This year has already been a deadly one for young people. D.C. residents are mourning and demanding answers from authorities following the death of 13-year-old Karon Blake, who was shot and killed by a neighbor in Brookland last weekend.

There have been 7 homicides and 33 assaults with a dangerous weapon so far this year, according to D.C. police data.

In 2022, there were 203 homicides in D.C., a decrease of 10% from 2021 — but still high compared to other recent years (the number is quite low compared to rates in the 1990s). But even with the downturn in homicides from year to year, 2022 also saw a tragic increase in youth killings, many of them gun-related. 18 young people were killed by guns in 2022.

Researchers are able to pinpoint a small group of mostly young Black men who are most at-risk of being involved in gun violence in D.C., and the District’s violence interruption programs are designed to reach people with services and support to prevent violence from occurring in the first place.

At the scene of the shooting, Bowser appeared to reference those programs — but also called for “consequences” in the wake of violence.

“We have to work collectively to identify young people who are in trouble or need to get help before they use a gun,” she said. “When we find them with a gun, they have to have consequences … so they’re not back out in our communities shooting indiscriminately at our children.”

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing and police are asking community members to come forward with information, photos or videos of the incident by calling (202) 727-9099 or texting 50-411.

Jordan Pascale contributed reporting.