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.
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.
More Safety

New York Girl Killed by School Bus Hit & Run
An 11-year-old in Brooklyn was killed crossing the street. Meanwhile, the school bus driver faces misdemeanor charges after he left the scene.
Read More →
Disaster Readiness Starts Before the Storm [Call for Experts]
The 2026 Disaster Response Guide is officially underway, and we’re now opening a Call for Insights and Experts.
Read More →
How Supplemental Transportation Helps Close Driver Gaps
Ongoing driver shortages nationwide are forcing tough transportation decisions. See how districts are using supplemental transportation to maintain coverage for high-needs students.
Read More →
New York 5-Year-Old Killed by School Bus, Investigation Ongoing
A Rockland County child was struck by their school bus late last week. Here's what we know so far about this and other fatalities and injuries in the area over the years.
Read More →
Prevent School Bus Dragging Incidents: Anti-Pinch Door Sensors and Maine’s New Mandate
As Maine becomes one of the first states to require anti-pinch door sensors on new school buses, manufacturers like Mayser offer a look at how the technology works and why it's a critical fail-safe.
Read More →
8 Ways To Simplify and Streamline School Bus Fleet Operations
What if your fleet technology actually worked together? Learn eight practical strategies to integrate multiple systems into one platform, unlocking clearer insights, stronger safety standards, and smoother daily operations.
Read More →
Survey: Most Parents Want Automated Enforcement on School Buses
A recent Verra Mobility survey reports that 82% of parents support safety cameras to penalize stop-arm violators and 70% favor automated enforcement in school zones.
Read More →
State Grant Program Advances School Bus Safety Upgrades Across Ohio
$10 million in state grants will fund safety upgrades and new features on school buses serving students across the Buckeye State.
Read More →
Waymo Scrutiny Intensifies as NTSB Launches Investigation
After complications in multiple cities when self-driving taxis failed to stop for school buses, the NTSB joins NHTSA in a probe to determine what's behind the tech and related safety concerns.
Read More →
Transportant Debuts First Full-Color Stop Arm Camera for School Buses
Transportant introduced a next-generation stop arm camera designed to improve image quality and reliability for documenting illegal school bus passings.
Read More →
