BB shots strike buses carrying Rose Parade float viewers

Someone armed with a BB gun shot out windows in three school buses today that were shuttling people to Pasadena High School, where the Rose Parade floats were on display, police said.

The shootings took place shortly after 11 a.m. as the buses drove through the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Forest Avenue, said Lt. Chris Russ of the Pasadena Police Department.

Nobody was hurt, but passengers were shaken up.

"It was like a big pop," said Valli Herman, who along with her 9-year-old son was riding in one of the buses. "I thought it was a balloon.... I turned around and right across the aisle was my friend covered with shards of glass. Then I saw the window shattered. People were like, 'What the heck is going on?' "

"Oh, my, gosh, it was freaky," said her son, Eli. "I thought it was confetti, then I thought it was a rock, but it was really a BB gun."

Police are investigating the shootings. No arrests have been made.

"It was probably just some mischievous kids or something, but we may never know," Russ said.

-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles