A Cook County judge Wednesday ordered the pretrial release of a school bus aide, in relation to an incident this week in which a 12-year-old student fired a loaded gun allegedly left on a school bus.
Steven Dixon, 22, faces a felony charge for possessing a firearm at a school, three misdemeanor counts of child endangerment and one misdemeanor count for reckless conduct, according to court records.
On Monday afternoon, a child shot a loaded gun allegedly left by Dixon on the school bus, shattering a window, police representatives said. According to a police report obtained by the Tribune, the boy found holding the gun has a habit of going through other people’s things. This firearm was shot directly outside Minnie Miñoso Academy in Bridgeport.
After being confronted by the bus driver, Dixon then allegedly grabbed the weapon and the bag and ran north on Wallace Street, according to the report.
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Dixon was ordered to surrender any firearms and avoid contact with children other than his own.
In allowing Dixon’s release pending trial, Judge John Hock spoke of Dixon’s young age, lack of criminal history and appearance throughout the hearing. The school bus aide held his head in his hands, wiping his eyes.
“I do believe it’s clear you understand the situation that you find yourself in,” Hock told Dixon.
Dixon turned himself in to police about three hours after the incident, bringing them a gun, a shell casing and the backpack, Assistant State’s Attorney Elizabeth Dibler said.
Surveillance video allegedly showed the gun firing directly over the head of another child, Dibler said. She described the firearm as a black Glock semi-automatic pistol and noted that Dixon did not have a concealed carry license.
Defense attorney Raymond Bendig contended during Wednesday’s hearing that the prosecution’s request to jail Dixon ahead of trial was improper, as it would require proving the alleged crime involved a threat of “great bodily harm.”
“There was no threat in any way by Mr. Dixon,” Bendig said, arguing that leaving a gun unattended was not the same as threatening someone verbally or through actions.
Hock agreed with prosecutors that Dixon’s alleged actions posed a threat, but the judge did not grant the petition for detention.
“It is an extremely dangerous situation — one you caused 100% by yourself that day when you chose to bring a gun around children,” he said.
Dixon is due back in court next Monday.
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