Boys slingshot buses on expressway 'for fun'

By An Binh July 3, 2024 | 04:59 pm PT

A window of a sleeper bus on the My Thuan-Can Tho Expressway is shattered, June 28, 2024. Photo provided to VnExpress

Two boys in the Mekong Delta's Vinh Long Province have been accused of shooting metal balls at sleeper buses on the My Thuan-Can Tho Expressway, breaking glass windows and windshields.

Authorities in Vinh Long received reports on Tuesday that the windows of sleeper buses on a My Thuan-Can Tho Expressway section in Tan Hoa District had been broken following "impacts with solid objects." An investigation with police revealed that Duy, 17, and Thanh, 11, who were found walking on a nearby road, were the prime suspects in the offenses.

A search of the two boys revealed three slingshots and hundreds of metal balls, so they were taken to a police station for further questioning.

Hundreds of metal balls are seized by the police. Photo courtesy of Vinh Long police

The boys admitted to having shot the windows of several vehicles on the expressway over the past few days. On June 28 alone, they broke the windows of six buses. Drivers reported property damages amounting to VND4-6 million ($157.14-235.71) per bus.

The boys said they initially bought the slingshots to hunt rats, but shot the vehicles "for fun." Their families have taken them back home.

The My Thuan-Can Tho Expressway, spanning 23 km, runs through Vinh Long and Dong Thap provinces. It opened late last year. It halves the travel time from HCMC to Can Tho, from four hours to two hours, compared to traveling along National Highway 1A.