MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — An armed security guard and concealed carry permit holder has been charged after he opened fire on a 78-year-old school bus driver after a fender bender on a busy and snowy highway this week.
The man, 31-year-old Kenneth Lilly, is claiming self-defense.
However, surveillance video tells another story that seems to be a far cry from a self-defense situation.
Now Lilly, of St. Paul, faces charges of second-degree attempted murder and second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon in the school bus shooting Tuesday on Interstate 35W near downtown Minneapolis. An 8-year-old bus passenger was not hurt.
Lilly, who was arrested immediately afterward, told investigators he fired at the stopped bus after a fender-bender during a snowstorm traffic jam out of fear for his safety, the charges said.
Lilly was jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail, but posted bond and was released the night before he made his first appearance in Hennepin County District Court. Lilly answered questions from Judge Peter Cahill, who ordered that he surrender his permit to carry, stay away from the alleged victim and refrain from possessing guns or ammunition. His next court date is set for March 8.
via StarTribune.com
In the video below, fast-forward to the 3-minute mark for a much better quality video. It’s nearly impossible to see what’s happening prior to that mark.
The short story; A fender-bender occurred between the two vehicles. At some point, Lilly exits his vehicle and tries to talk with the driver of the school bus and/or enter the bus via the side door. When the attempt fails, he fires numerous rounds into the front windshield of the bus, striking the driver.
Back in 2015, Lilly was subject to an armed robbery where he shot and killed a 16-year-old boy after that boy brandished a firearm.
Ramsey County prosecutors at the time declined to press charges, saying that Kenneth Lilly, 31, was “legally justified” when he shot 16-year-old Lavauntai Broadbent. Broadbent was killed on July 31, 2015, after he brandished a handgun at Lilly and another person at Shadow Falls Park in an apparent robbery. Lilly drew his own gun — for which he had a permit to carry — and fired at Broadbent, who was wearing a mask and gloves, police said. Prosecutors declined to charge Lilly the following month.
via StarTribune.com
At the time of the school bus shooting, there was a small girl on the bus with the driver as well. She was not injured during the incident.
We’ll be watching this one closely to see what develops. Lilly’s lawyer called the shooting “complicated”, and that more information will be coming out about what exactly went down.
For our seats, it doesn’t look good for Lilly.
