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 Posted - 10/10/2002 : 3:39:00 PM
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A 24-year-old man armed with a concealed 9mm semi-automatic pistol posed as a high school student and boarded a Metro-Nashville school bus last week. He did not brandish the weapon on the bus, and was chased and arrested after the bus arrived at school.
Police and school officials credit the driver with protecting the students. "She did what she was supposed to do and possibly kept an incident from happening," Craig Owensby, spokesperson for Metro Schools, told the Tennessean.
When he boarded the bus, the suspect, Stephen Douglas Barger, told the driver that he was a new high school transfer student. The driver allowed him to board the bus, but became suspicious when Barger began fidgeting, talking to himself and getting up from his seat. The driver called dispatch to report Barger's behavior and an assistant principal met the bus when it arrived at school.
When the administrator offered to accompany Barger to the office for registration, he ran to the parking lot and tried to pay a student $5 for a ride off campus. The student refused.
Barger then flagged down a passing MTA bus. A school resource officer pulled the bus over and ordered Barger off. Barger ran until the officer caught him, at which time he began fighting with the officer. After spraying Barger with pepper spray, the officer was able to get Barger under control. A subsequent search revealed a pistol in one pocket and a clip loaded with five rounds in another pocket.
Also in his possession were notes saying, "I've got murder on the brain" and "Welcome to the wasteland." Prosecutors and defense lawyers argued during Barger's detention hearing whether the notes were warnings of dangerous instability or whether they were lyrics for rap songs he writes.
Barger faces up to five years in jail for bringing a weapon to school property. His lawyers argue that the gun wasn't loaded and he was only on campus briefly before fleeing that morning. The judge says he needs more time and information to determine if Barger should be eligible for bail. Barger's next hearing is set for Oct. 18.
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Armed man poses as student, boards school bus
