The man accused of shooting a Minneapolis school bus driver on Interstate 94 last Tuesday is now charged with attempted second-degree murder and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.
“It appears he fired five times at the school bus striking the driver twice,” said David Brown, the Hennepin County Attorney's Chief Deputy.
“In the complaint it’s detailed that he (Lilly) called 911. I believe there are other 911 calls as well,” said Brown.
Investigators say the bus collided with Lilly’s car on I-94 while trying to merge. The 78-year-old driver later told investigators he didn’t know he struck Lilly’s car. The complaint then says Lilly stopped his car, got out and then walked towards the bus where he attempted to enter the passenger door. The driver told Lilly he ‘could not come in because there was an 8-year-old girl onboard’. The attorney’s office said video then shows Lilly walking to the front of the bus, pulling out his 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol from his holster, and firing into the windshield.
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“It appears he fired five shots at the school bus striking the driver twice,” said Brown. “The 8-year-old child, who was in the bus at the time, was not injured.”
A bullet grazed the side of the 78-year-old driver’s head and second shot hit his left arm.
“While the injuries were very serious the victim is expected to survive and we’re just very pleased and happy for that,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Mederia Arradondo.
Lilly later told officers he feared for his safety. However, the Hennepin County Attorney’s office doesn’t believe that, and said video footage showed Lilly retreated to a safe spot before shooting.
“We’ve almost stopped running out of ways to describe this. It was just horrific,” said Brown.
If convicted Lilly could face up to 20 years in prison.
