Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has made a second arrest in connection with gunfire that struck a school bus in east Charlotte, in what is now an ongoing investigation into a shooting incident that endangered the lives of middle school students. Yesterday, 20-year-old Paris Lewis-Bynum was arrested and faces charges including possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and possession of a stolen motor vehicle, QC News detailed in their coverage.
Earlier in the week, CMPD had apprehended 21-year-old Lamarius Ramel Anthony, who is now facing an array of charges including felony possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, and carrying a concealed weapon, during the incident on East W.T. Harris Blvd near Idlewild Road North where police believe a school bus carrying approximately 30 students from Albemarle Road Middle School was caught in the crossfire of a drug-related dispute, according to the WSOCTV report.
The Charlotte Observer made note of the shattered glass from the gunfire resulting in injuries to two students. Following the shooting, the 30 children on board the bus were likely left to contend with a reality in which the place meant for learning had become an auxiliary battleground in a larger war they had no part in.
The story took a further twist as The Charlotte Observer reports that this is not Anthony's first gun charge, revealing that a grand jury indicted him on allegations of carrying a concealed gun in January after a prior conviction in December 2023, marking a brief yet charged history with similar offenses.
Meanwhile, the current status of Paris Lewis-Bynum is that he has been transferred to the custody of the sheriff's office, a statement obtained by WSOCTV explained, casting another somber tone on this series of events as community members and authorities alike grapple with the ramifications of violence spilling into the lives of students.
Public records and a jail spokesperson confirmed that Anthony received a $9,000 unsecured bond and was subsequently released from the Mecklenburg County Jail on Tuesday afternoon, shedding light on the judicial movements following such events as the community continues to digest the full scope of the incident's impact, this information aligns with court records cited by The Charlotte Observer.
