Mum shielded little boy as gunman fired at Sheffield bus passenger at '˜point blank range'

The witness told The Star how the man pulled a black pistol and an eight-inch knife from his trousers and subjected bus passengers to a frightening ordeal in broad daylight after getting off the bus.

The mum, who did not wish to be named for fear of retribution, said: “He got off with about a dozen other passengers. The man seemed in a hurry to get off the bus. He knocked into a couple of people as he hurried off.

“Some people asked him to watch his step.

“That’s when he shouted, ‘I’m not scared of anybody!’

“He pulled out a black pistol from his trousers and fired it at point blank range at one of the other passengers, a man.

“I held my child as tight as I could and tried to cover him to keep him safe.

“He then pulled out a large black Rambo style knife, blade approximately eight inches long, and waved that along with the pistol whilst continuing to shout but it was incomprehensible.”

“The passengers all backed away or those that were on the bus ducked down.”

The Star broke the news of the shooting on Sunday

The woman – who had been a passenger on the 272 bus when it stopped outside The Fox House on Hathersage Road – said the man then ran away over the pub car park and into the fields beyond.

She described the man as white, with short dark brown hair and short side burns, clean shaven and aged around early to mid 20s and about 5’9”. She said he was wearing a checked Fred Perry baseball cap.

She also praised the actions of the bus driver, adding: “The bus driver and some of the passengers were wonderful, they spent time asking the gun man’s intended victim if he was okay and checked him over for a wound but thankfully he was unhurt and then kept spirits up with friendly chat in true Yorkshire style.”

The incident happened at about 12.45pm on Sunday and so far no arrests have been made.

A spokesman for First Bus said: “The incident occurred off the 272 bus heading to Castleton outside the Fox House Inn and our driver immediately contacted the police. Thankfully no-one was injured in the incident.”

He added: “I would like to apologise to customers who experienced disrupted journeys because of the incident.

“We’re working closely with the South Yorkshire Police to support their investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 508 of May 1.”

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111.

For the FULL story, pick up a copy of The Star on Wednesday, May 4.