Westbrook police are following up numerous tips in an investigation into the shooting of a school bus window Monday.

"We're actually getting quite a number of what appear to be very strong leads," said Chief William Baker.

Police are still unable to say what type of projectile was fired from a car into the school bus carrying 17 students from Canal Street Elementary School.

"Whether it's a BB gun or a pellet gun or a .22 (caliber,) all of those things could have caused significant injury," Baker said.

The bus was making its afternoon rounds and was traveling past the intersection of Brackett and Prospect streets when someone fired at the bus.

Witnesses saw a person leaning out the window of a green Ford Taurus with what appeared to be a gun at the time of the shooting.

Police became aware of the incident when a driver on another bus flagged down Baker on Main Street. The students were transferred to a different bus so police could collect evidence and because the incident was frightening for the children, Baker said. The window was smashed by the projectile.

An officer in a cruiser followed the bus for the rest of its route. Baker said officers are out in force during the afternoon and morning bus runs, typically to enforce traffic laws.

Westbrook police charged two teenagers last spring with firing a BB or pellet gun into the window of a Prides Corner School bus. In that case, hitting the bus appeared to be unintentional, Baker said, though at least one of the youths was charged with a felony.

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