A rider’s report of a possible gun on a Sacramento County bus led deputies to stop the bus near Routier Road and Ellenwood Drive in Rancho Cordova last Friday, where they found a loaded, unregistered rifle in a 21-year-old man’s backpack; he was arrested on weapons charges and later released on pre-trial probation after deputies confirmed the weapon using the bus’s live video feed, according to FOX40.
How the stop unfolded
Deputies first spoke with the bus driver at the Routier Road and Ellenwood Drive stop and reviewed video provided by riders, officials said. The man identified as the person of interest then exited the bus, walked toward deputies, and was detained without incident.
Transit safety in the spotlight
The arrest comes as Sacramento Regional Transit has been ramping up security on its system. Earlier this month, SacRT announced it would expand its partnership with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, adding more deputies, armed security officers, and Transit Ambassadors as part of a broader safety and technology push.
What the law says
California law treats possession of certain unregistered or assault-style firearms as a criminal offense, and carrying a loaded firearm in public is separately prohibited under state statutes. For additional background on registration rules and potential penalties, the California Department of Justice publishes an online firearms FAQ.
The sheriff’s office identified the arrested man as 21-year-old Kanye Smithburns. Local reporting notes he was released hours later on pre-trial probation. FOX40 reported the booking as weapons-related, and authorities did not report any injuries from the incident.
