Olympics media bus window shatters; security officials investigating possible bullet, rock

By Andrew V. Pestano
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Brazilian army soldiers patrol Copacabana beach at sunset in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Tuesday. Officials are investigating an incident in which a bus carrying journalists between Olympic venues was either shot at or a rock pierced through a window, shattering glass. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI
Brazilian army soldiers patrol Copacabana beach at sunset in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Tuesday. Officials are investigating an incident in which a bus carrying journalists between Olympic venues was either shot at or a rock pierced through a window, shattering glass. Photo by Richard Ellis/UPI | License Photo

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Rio de Janeiro officials are examining an Olympics media bus that may have been hit by a stray bullet or a rock, which shattered glass and injured one journalist.

The incident took place late Tuesday in the Curicica neighborhood on a Transolímpica bus that connects two major centers of Olympics sports facilities, the Youth Arena in Deodoro and the Olympic Park in Barra da Tijuca. Eight foreign reporters and three Brazilian reporters were on the bus.

Rio Olympics organizing committee spokesman Mario Andrada said security officials are investigating the matter, adding that the impact could have been caused by a rock. A Belarusian journalist received minor cuts from falling glass.

"This is a very serious matter, we cannot give any information without police and security forces confirming what happened," Andrada said.

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Lee Michaelson, a journalist who owns a firearm and works for HoopFeed.com, said she heard gunshots.

"I heard two shots -- like a pop-pop," Michaelson said. "I wouldn't call myself a firearm expert, but I know the sound of gun shots. You would have to put an FBI firearms expert in front of me to give me one iota of doubt."

Michaelson said the bus pulled over after the incident and the police came aboard.

"The driver said, 'Don't worry. It's a rock, it's a rock,'" Michaelson said. "There is no way that could have been a rock."

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