A school bus carrying students from Albemarle Road Middle School in Charlotte was struck by gunfire on Monday, a chaotic scene caught on the bus's on-board camera. The footage, released by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, illustrates the alarming moment when the vehicle was hit by rounds while driving down the road, prompting students to duck for cover. The students were not harmed by gunfire but two individuals suffered cuts from shattered glass, QC News reported.
In the video's aftermath, the bus driver is seen expressing relief in a prayerful gesture, acknowledging that none of the approximately 30 students on board were seriously injured. Parents, including Dia Landy, whose child rides a CMS bus, expressed gratitude that the situation did not escalate to greater harm. "I'm more than happy that those children are safe, and the bus driver did exactly what she was supposed to do, and kept those kids calm," Landy told WBTV. Furthermore, police have clarified the bus was caught in the crossfire of an unrelated altercation nearby.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) has arrested two individuals in connection with the shooting. Paris Lewis-Bynum, 20, is charged with multiple offenses, including the possession of a stolen firearm and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. A judge has denied him bond, and he is due to appear in court on January 9. An affidavit indicated that Lewis-Bynum was allegedly defending drug territory with a stolen rifle, inadvertently striking the school bus, according to WCNC Charlotte. The second arrested individual, Lamarius Ramel Anthony, is facing drug and weapon charges and is held on a $9,000 bond.
Dan Redford, president of the Char-Meck Fraternal Order of Police, expressed frustration at the recurring issue of gun violence affecting innocent lives, including children. "Again, we see innocent victims that fall prey to this; it’s frustrating. We’ve got a gun problem in this city; we’ve got a violence problem in this city," Redford stated, calling attention to the need for more community voices to speak out on behalf of victims. The incident has stirred conversations among community members about the need for proper training and regulations surrounding firearms, to prevent such endangerment in the future, as per QC News.
