SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

2 Students Arrested in Shooting Near School Bus Stop

The Virginia teens allegedly have guns on their person and one fires his gun after exiting the school bus. Both are facing firearm charges.

July 25, 2016
2 min to read


PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Two high school students here have been arrested on firearm charges in connection with a shooting that allegedly occurred near a school bus stop last week, WAVY reports.

On Tuesday morning, police received several 911 calls reporting shots heard, and when officers arrived at the scene, they found evidence of a gun having been fired, the news source reports. Police told WAVY that that evening, the school resource officer at Churchland High School was told that two students, ages 15 and 17, who were attending summer school, were involved in “an incident involving firearms at a bus stop.”

During an investigation the following morning, school resource officers found that both male students were in possession of guns and that the gunshots heard in the area was one of the students firing a gun after getting off the school bus, according to the news source. The teens have been charged with underage possession of a firearm, a misdemeanor, and possession of a firearm on school property, which is a felony, WAVY reports. The students have turned themselves in and are being held at a juvenile detention facility.

The Virginian-Pilot obtained a letter that Portsmouth Public Schools sent to parents on Wednesday that stated that no students or employees were harmed in the incident and that an investigation was being conducted. The letter also asked parents to remind their children that “weapons and look-alike weapons are prohibited from school grounds and are also prohibited from all school-sponsored events.”

Police spokeswoman Misty Holley told the newspaper that the students “didn’t shoot at the bus, they didn’t shoot on the bus, they didn’t shoot near the school.” School district spokesperson Ari Durall said in an email to The Virginian-Pilot that the bus driver and bus monitor did not hear the shots fired.

More Safety

Waymo’s fully autonomous legacy Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan at a crosswalk with a red overlay and text reading "Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?"
Safetyby Elora HaynesAugust 11, 2026

Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?

NHTSA is accelerating autonomous vehicle deployment through new safety standards and commercial approvals. See why school transportation leaders are watching.

Read More →
Graphic promoting a school bus safety public service announcement featuring NFL Hall of Famer Lomas Brown. The graphic shows Brown speaking in front of a stopped school bus with students crossing in a video displayed on a laptop screen, alongside the headline, "Lomas Brown Says: 'No Rushing Around the School Bus,'" and the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsAugust 10, 2026

NFL Star Lomas Brown Kicks Off New Illegal School Bus Passing PSA

Just in time for the back-to-school season, the former Detroit Lions offensive tackle took time to record a video encouraging motorists to slow down around school buses.

Read More →
Graphic titled "NSC Award Winners" featuring two group photos of National Safety Council award recipients. One group holds an "Our Driving Concern Employer Traffic Safety Award" banner, while the other poses with a recognition plaque at the 2026 Texas Traffic Safety Conference.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettAugust 4, 2026

How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs

Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."
Safetyby Elora HaynesJuly 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Read More →
Graphic for a School Bus Fleet news story featuring the NASDPTS logo, a speaker presenting with a microphone, and the headline, "38.4 Million Stop-Arm Violations," highlighting annual illegal school bus passing estimates.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettJuly 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Read More →
Graphic illustrating a fatal school bus incident in New York, featuring a close-up view of the front of a yellow school bus with a cracked-glass overlay and the headline, "7-Year-Old Fatally Struck in New York," dated July 9, 2026, alongside the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJuly 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJune 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

Read More →
zonar system image
SponsoredJune 22, 2026

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for a new Pro-Vision AI camera system. The image shows a monitor displaying camera views with AI object detection overlays, along with multiple cameras and recording hardware. Text reads "New Product," "Pro-Vision," and "Visibly Better." School Bus Fleet logo appears in the lower-right corner.
SafetyJune 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.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A New York school bus in the street.
Safetyby Elora HaynesJune 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.

Read More →