SUTTON, W.Va. — Deputies in Braxton County said they have caught the teenagers responsible for vandalizing nearly every school bus owned by the county school system.
One by one the windows and windshields were broken out of 30 vehicles early Wednesday morning in a parking lot near Sutton.
Brenda Wells, Braxton County’s director of curriculum services, told MetroNews it was nothing more than senseless vandalism.
“I just can’t imagine who would do that when we are here to support kids. That’s what it’s all about,” she said. “It’s just frustrating to find that people don’t see the big picture of things.”
Only one or two buses in the fleet were not damaged. Investigators said the teenage vandals apparently used fire extinguishers to do the damage.
“Our buses are all parked in a long row and you see each bus with the front windows are mainly smashed out, and many buses have the side windows smashed out as well. There’s glass all over,” Wells said.
A woman called in after seeing the story on the news Wednesday and gave deputies a tip that lead to the teenagers, who police said confessed.
The teens face multiple felony charges including destruction of property and breaking and entering. They were released to their parents Wednesday night.
Damage estimates are expected to exceed $100,000. Wells said one bus alone has about $3,000 in damages.
“On some of the buses, it’s almost every window,” she said.
State police troopers and Braxton County Sheriff’s deputies are still working to determine a motive in the crime.