Woman points loaded shotgun at school bus carrying 4 children in Oswego
Oswego, N.Y June 11 2021— A woman has been charged with pointing a loaded shotgun at a passing school bus Tuesday afternoon in the city of Oswego.
At the time, four children were on the bus, police said. No shots were fired.
Rita M. Powers, 42, of Oswego, has been charged with reckless endangerment. Her actions may have been drug-related, said Lt. Damian Waters, of the Oswego City Police Department: Officers are familiar with Powers, who they said is known to use drugs.
Powers was arrested Tuesday afternoon near Montcalm Park and West Schuyler Street. She had been seen wandering the area around 4:15 p.m. with a shotgun — the same gun she’d pointed at a bus, police said.
The woman had stolen the gun and ammunition after burglarizing an Oswego home, police said. She wandered the area, eventually pointing the weapon at an Oswego school bus as it drove by, police said.
The four children on the bus did not see Powers brandish the shotgun, police said. The two adults on the bus, however, did see her, police said.
Powers has been charged with:
First-degree burglary, a felony
Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony
First-degree reckless endangerment, a felony
Fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony
Second-degree menacing, a misdemeanor
Petit larceny, a misdemeanor
She was held in custody as she waited to be arraigned.
Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident or has more information to call (315) 342-8120.
