JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – During a press conference by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Friday morning, police said that the shots fired into a Duval County school bus were retaliation in connection with a fatal crash that happened last year.
Officials did not go into the details of the crash, but after looking into a fatal crash that involved an Ed White High School student and speaking to the student's mother, it has come to light that the shooting may be connected to a conflict that has been brewing since 15-year-old Tyriq Grant's tragic death.
Shelvonya Grant almost broke down into tears hearing that two innocent girls were harmed over the memory of her son.
She said that it has been a struggle after losing her son in a car accident last August.
"It's been pretty rough. I've had some good days and bad days," Shelvonya Grant said.
But on Thursday when she heard the devastating news that two teens were shot on a school bus, she said she never would have thought it would be because of her son's death.
"I was devastated that they said it was retaliation or something dealing with Tyriq. I was kind of shocked, because Tyriq is no longer here with us," Shelvonya Grant said.
Shelvonya Grant said that back in August, after her son's passing, there was conflict between students but she didn't hear anything about retaliation.
"In the beginning, honestly, I heard that a couple of kids were saying things and they didn't like that. But I haven't heard, honestly, anything recently until today," Shelvonya Grant said.
She said her son's friends were on the bus, and no one is a victor in any of this.
"It just saddens me, because I don't want no mother to have to go through that. It just saddens me. It hurts. And even the suspect. His mother going through it, because his life is gone. You know it just saddens me. But I praise God and thank God that those girls are okay," Shelvonya Grant said.
To anyone who thinks a gun will solve anything, Shelvonya Grant has a message.
"Just let some things go. These days these kids think that they're weak or soft, because they don't say anything or fight back. But that doesn't make you weak or soft. Walk the other way. That makes you the better person," Shelvonya Grant said.