Joyce Gregory was a beloved school bus driver for Stewart County Schools in Tennessee. Her life ended in 2005 when one of the students on her bus fatally shot her.

Jason Clinard was 14 years old at the time. The previous day, Gregory reported him for having tobacco on the bus; the next day, he took a gun and killed her with other students on board during the morning route. After another student tried to steer the bus to safety, it crashed into a utility pole. None of the students were hurt.

Now, in a federal court, Clinard’s conviction has been overturned and his record expunged on a technicality, according to a SBF source. Nashville reporter Nick Beres confirmed the news on social media. 

“It saddens and hurts me that a convicted murderer was released on a technicality then to add insult to injury, his record to be completely expunged like it never happened,” said Stewart County Schools’ Transportation Director Eric Watkins. “The justice system had done a disservice to Ms. Joyce’s family, our school transportation family, and our community. It was just like Ms. Joyce’s life never mattered.” 

This was the first time a bus driver in the U.S. was killed by a student, the Stewart County Standard reported. 

About the 2005 Incident

After the shooting, Clinard was arrested, convicted in adult court, and sentenced to at least 51 years in prison. 

Clinard and his family appealed the case multiple times, asking that it be sent to juvenile court.

Two years ago and 18 years into his sentence, he was released after a judge’s ruling.

“The judge ruled the murder was a delinquent act and the interests of the community do not require him to be under legal restraint or discipline,” the Stewart County Standard news report read.

The judge referenced that at the time, Clinard had poor legal representation, and referred to testimony from Clinard’s teachers and football coach who said the boy had good character, WKRN News 2 reported. A doctor who examined Clinard also “found the boy had major depressive disorder which ‘most likely compromised his judgment and reasoning skills, and put him at an increased risk for inappropriate behavior, such as acting on his angry impulses’” the ruling said.

Clinard was released from prison on September 19, 2023. 

Gregory’s bus was repaired and put back in service, though its number, 22, was retired. Gregory was described as outgoing, friendly, and conscientious. She also worked as a teacher’s assistant in a special education classroom.

The district has since worked to increase its safety and security efforts.

As more details develop regarding this new development, we will update this post accordingly.