As teachers were getting ready for the first day of school at M.S. 391 in the Bronx Wednesday, police say one of them was shot by a stray bullet.

The 33-year-old special education teacher was grazed on his palm after the bullet went through the window from outside the building, according to officials. He walked away from the shooting with just stitches.


What You Need To Know

  • As teachers were getting ready for the first day of school at M.S. 391 in the Bronx Wednesday, police say one of them was shot by a stray bullet

  • The 33-year-old special education teacher was grazed on his palm after the bullet went through the window from outside the building, according to officials 

  • To have an added layer of safety, police said there will be more school safety agents and police officers in place for the first day of classes on Thursday, even though they believe this was not a targeted attack

“He’s home. Thank God, it could have been a lot worse, but he’s going to be just fine. He said, 'I can’t wait to get back to school,'” Schools Chancellor David Banks said.

To have an added layer of safety, police said there will be more school safety agents and police officers in place for the first day of classes on Thursday, even though they believe this was not a targeted attack.

“We’re currently searching all rooftops nearby, looking for both ballistic evidence and video evidence,” Deputy Chief Louis Deceglie said.

The incident comes as the number of shooting victims in the Bronx has increased 3% when compared with the same time last year. The number of shooting incidents, though, has decreased by less than a percent.

“I’m always telling my children the school is the second house, because you spend half [your time] at your house and some at your school,” Hassatou Berry, a mother of a student, said Wednesday.

Berry’s 13-year-old son starts the sixth grade at the school on Thursday. She said she was unsure whether he’ll attend.

“We just want our children safe and the teachers safe,” Berry said.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson says it’s a daily struggle to get guns off the streets.

“We have taken thousands of guns off the streets of New York City, but yet it is still not enough. There are still too many guns and it’s still too easy to get a gun,” Gibson said.

No arrests have been made, officials said. Police have asked anyone with information to reach out to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.