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

What’s Behind HopSkipDrive’s Near-Perfect Safety Record in 2025?
The alternative transportation provider’s 2025 Safety Report highlights 99.7% incident-free rides, 130 million safe miles, and more.
Read More →2026 School Bus Fleet Vendor Directory & Buyer's Guide
Searching for the right equipment, technology, or services for your school transportation program? This industry guide brings together manufacturers and suppliers across the entire school bus market, all in one place. Download it to find the partners who can help move your operation forward.
Read More →
Child Safety Network Taps Dr. Michael C. Hout to Combat School Bus Stop-Arm Runners
Child Safety Network appointed psychology researcher Michael C. Hout, Ph.D., to lead a study examining why drivers illegally pass stopped school buses.
Read More →
NTSB Determines Human Error Led to Waymo’s Illegal School Bus Passing
Investigators reported a remote assistance error allowed a Waymo driverless vehicle to illegally pass a stopped school bus in Austin.
Read More →
National Action Plan Aims to End Illegal School Bus Passings Across the U.S.
See how a new 50-state roadmap outlines 69 strategies for districts, law enforcement, and policymakers to reduce the 39 million illegal school bus passings reported each year.
Read More →
11-Year-Old Student Dies After Falling Under School Bus
Recently, an Iowa student died after falling under a school bus, while 14 Oklahoma students were injured days later when a semi-truck rear-ended their bus.
Read More →
7 Key Criteria for Choosing a School Bus Fleet Technology Partner
Selecting a fleet technology partner can be complex, especially with evolving operational demands and limited resources. This white paper outlines seven key criteria to help school transportation leaders evaluate options and align technology with their needs. It offers a practical framework to support more informed decision-making.
Read More →
The Real Cost of Bus Fleet Downtime
When school bus communication systems fail, the consequences extend far beyond equipment repairs. Downtime can increase safety risks, strain dispatch operations, and erode driver confidence. Explore how proactive radio lifecycle management and managed services are reducing disruptions, supporting driver retention, and delivering predictable budgeting for school transportation fleets.
Read More →
EverDriven Launches New Council to Standardize Safety Across 36 States
EverDriven has launched a new safety council aimed at standardizing and strengthening student transportation practices across all states it operates in.
Read More →
Thomas Built Buses Awards “If You Pass” Safety Campaign Funds to Ga. District
The OEM's three-week campaign during National School Bus Safety Week has awarded nearly $6,000 to Bryan County Schools to support increasing student safety around the bus.
Read More →
