Fatal bus shooting investigation results in federal weapons charges

HOUSTON – An 18-year-old Houston resident has been charged with illegally possessing a machine gun and unlawful receipt of a firearm and ammunition following the recent fatal shooting on a local Metro bus, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Patrick Santana Scott remains in custody on related charges and is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court at a later date. According to the criminal complaint filed Jan. 16, a Houston Metro bus was in service and carrying passengers Jan. 7. The charges allege Scott was seated near the rear of the vehicle with a backpack when it stopped at an intersection. At that time, another individual allegedly entered, walked toward the back of the bus and fired a weapon in Scott’s direction. Scott then retrieved a firearm from his backpack and pointed it towards the shooter, according to court documents. The gunfire allegedly resulted in the death of a female passenger seated in front of Scott, who succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head. The charges allege a juvenile male passenger was also treated for a gunshot wound. Court documents indicate that one of the shell casings from the scene was from a 9mm Glock handgun recovered the following day and linked to Scott. The weapon allegedly had a machine gun conversion device - commonly known as a “switch” - designed to convert it from semi-automatic to a fully automatic firearm. The charges further allege Scott was under indictment in Harris County for aggravated robbery at the time of the shooting. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law. “SDTX has zero tolerance for those violent criminals who would turn our public transit into battlefields,” said Ganjei. “Scott is alleged to have violated his bond conditions by possessing a firearm—a decision that directly contributed to the death of innocent young woman and the wounding of a teen bystander. The facts, as alleged, paint the picture of somebody with no respect either for the law or for the life and health of his fellow citizens. With these federal charges, the Southern District aims to change his way of thinking.” “While out on bond for aggravated robbery charges in Harris County, Patrick Scott was the last person who should have allegedly been in possession of a machine gun conversion device,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “A young woman was killed and a teenager endures a long recovery because of the disregard Scott and a teen rival held for innocent lives on that bus that afternoon. FBI Houston applauds the United States Attorney’s Office for holding alleged repeat violent offenders accountable at the federal level. We hope these charges make others consider the life-and-death consequences of their irresponsible actions.” If convicted, Scott faces up to 10 years in federal prison for possession of a machine gun and up to five years for receipt of a firearm and ammunition while under indictment. Both charges also carry the possibility of a $250,000 maximum fine.