2 Accused of Threatening School Bus Riders With Firearms

At a bus stop in Lafayette, Louisiana, police say that a 19-year-old and a 15-year-old pulled out guns and pointed them at the bus.

Thomas McMahon・Executive Editor

September 26, 2016

2 Accused of Threatening School Bus Riders With Firearms — Vontraven Thibeaux, 19, was arrested for allegedly “terrorizing the occupants of a school bus with a firearm,” according to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.

2 min to read

Vontraven Thibeaux, 19, was arrested for allegedly “terrorizing the occupants of a school bus with a firearm,” according to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.

LAFAYETTE, La. — A 19-year-old man was arrested on Sunday night for allegedly threatening students on a school bus on Thursday.

Another suspect, a 15-year-old, had already been taken into custody in connection with the incident.

According to a press release from the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Vontraven Thibeaux and the juvenile suspect were accused of “terrorizing the occupants of a school bus with a firearm last Thursday.”

KATC reported that as the school bus driver was taking students home, the 15-year-old attempted to board the bus at a stop, but the driver put the teen off of the bus, a Lafayette Parish School System spokesman said.

Sheriff's deputies told KATC that after the teen stepped off, he pulled out a gun and pointed it at the bus, as did Thibeaux, who was with the teen. The school district spokesman told KATC that the school bus driver drove to a safe location to call police.

There were reportedly about 15 students on the bus at the time.

After taking the 15-year-old into custody, the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted an intensive investigation for Thibeaux over the weekend. At about 9 p.m. on Sunday, detectives located and arrested the 19-year-old.

According to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Thibeaux was also wanted for a previous firearm-related incident on Aug. 18. Thibeaux was charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder for that incident.

Topics:driver training law enforcement Louisiana school bus stops weapons Management Safety

More Safety

Safety•June 11, 2026

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System

The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.

Safety•by Elora Haynes•June 9, 2026

N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students

New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.

Graphic for an opinion article on illegal school bus passing. A school bus with its stop arm extended is stopped as children cross the street, while a black SUV drives past. Headline reads, “America’s School Bus Blind Spot.” School Bus Fleet branding appears in the corner.

Safety•June 8, 2026

America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse

Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.

A black, white, and red graphic with an image of a school bus on a New York street and text reading "Legislative Roundup May 2026."

Safety•by Elora Haynes•May 29, 2026

School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate

Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.

The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation

Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.