WALDORF, Md. - A 17-year-old boy was shot on a bike path nearby an elementary school in Waldorf, authorities say.
The Charles County Sheriff's Office says the shooting happened at around 3 p.m. as the victim was riding his silver BMX bicycle on a wooded trail near St. Paul's Drive, a few blocks away from Eva Turner Elementary School.
Deputies say the shooting appears to be connected to a robbery of the victim's bicycle.
"One of the suspects demanded his bicycle," said Diane Richardson, spokesperson for the Charles County Sheriff's Office. "At that point, one of the suspects pulled out a gun."
The victim, who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, was able to flag down a bus driver on an empty school bus after being shot.
"Just prior to the victim coming out of the woods, the bus driver did see somebody running out and didn't realize what had happened," said Richardson. "She continued traveling down the roadway and that's when the victim came out and flagged her down. She did call for help right away."
The driver drove the student to the elementary school where emergency crews responded.
The teenager was airlifted to Shock Trauma in Baltimore. He suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is in stable condition.
The elementary school was placed on a shelter-in-place status as a result of the shooting. Students were dismissed about 30 minutes after their usual dismissal time.
Authorities are searching for two black male suspects. One of them was possibly wearing a red baseball cap.