SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

School Bus Driver Hailed for Actions as Shots Fired Near Bus

As two students in Marietta, Georgia, are exiting their bus, the driver sees a man shooting a gun nearby and brings the students back on board. The shooter can be seen in bus video footage.

Thomas McMahon
Thomas McMahonExecutive Editor
November 17, 2016
School Bus Driver Hailed for Actions as Shots Fired Near Bus

As two students in Marietta, Georgia, were exiting their bus, the driver saw a man shooting a gun nearby and brought the students back on board. The shooter can be seen here in bus video footage.

2 min to read


As two students in Marietta, Georgia, were exiting their bus, the driver saw a man shooting a gun nearby and brought the students back on board. The shooter can be seen here in bus video footage.

MARIETTA, Ga. — A school bus driver here was praised for her decisive actions to keep students safe as gunfire erupted near her bus.

According to the Marietta Police Department, the Marietta City Schools bus was stopped at about 3:51 p.m. on Nov. 9, and two students were exiting. The school bus driver saw a man shooting a gun toward a house directly in front of the bus.

Ad Loading...

Police said that the school bus driver, who was not identified, “immediately grabbed the two children that were attempting to exit the bus and secured the doors.” The driver then called 911, and Marietta Police Department officers were dispatched to the scene. Meanwhile, the suspect fled the scene in a blue and white SUV.

“This driver kept innocent children out of harm’s way,” Mark Lindstrom, transportation director for Marietta City Schools, said in a press release. “She is a hero to all of us, and the entire community is grateful for her bravery.”

Police said that no children were injured, and no one was shot. Video surveillance footage from the exterior of the school bus reportedly shows the suspect firing 10 to 12 rounds toward a house before fleeing.

On Monday, the Marietta Police Department asked for the public’s help in identifying the man who fired the shots. A description and images of the suspect were posted on Nixle.

American Traffic Solutions (ATS) released video footage from the exterior of the bus that shows a man running near the bus and apparently firing a handgun (see below).

Ad Loading...

In a press release, ATS added another detail about the incident: A sibling of a student was close by, waiting for the student to be dropped off. As the school bus driver brought the two passengers back on board, the sibling also sought cover inside the bus.

“This driver’s protective and selfless actions in that dangerous moment are nothing short of heroic,” said Liz Caracciolo, ATS safety general manager. “ATS is incredibly proud to be associated with such men and women.”

More Management

The Route thumbnail with school bus fleet logo
SponsoredMarch 19, 2026

All About Cooperative Purchasing: A Guide for School Transportation Pros

Stop bidding everything and try a simpler way. Here's how cooperative purchasing can streamline purchases while maintaining compliance. Sourcewell breaks down the process in this episode of The Route, sponsored by IC Bus.

Read More →
Yellow school bus on road with “Company Update” graphic and EverDriven logo announcing school bus routing services
Managementby News/Media ReleaseMarch 19, 2026

EverDriven Launches New School Bus Routing Services

The alternative transportation company expands its services to traditional yellow buses with the launch of a new division focused on helping school districts optimize their routes.

Read More →
Joshua Roberts of First Student Inc. recognized as a 2026 School Bus Fleet Trailblazers winner, shown in a headshot with the School Bus Fleet Trailblazers award graphic.
Managementby Elora HaynesMarch 18, 2026

2026 Trailblazer: Joshua Roberts of First Student

Roberts, 35, serves as the lead IT application engineer for vehicle electrification at First Student, where he helps shape scalable, real-world EV infrastructure to support student transportation.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Quavion Swazer of Puyallup School District recognized as a 2026 School Bus Fleet Trailblazers winner, pictured in a headshot with the Trailblazers award graphic.
Managementby Elora HaynesMarch 18, 2026

2026 Trailblazer: Quavion Swazer of Puyallup School District

Swazer, 29, serves as director of transportation at Puyallup School District, where he champions student wellbeing and inspires the next generation of industry leaders.

Read More →
Katia Dubas of IMMI recognized as a 2026 School Bus Fleet Trailblazers winner, shown in a headshot alongside the Trailblazers award graphic.
Managementby Elora HaynesMarch 18, 2026

2026 Trailblazer: Katia Dubas of IMMI

Dubas, 38, serves as sales manager and safety advocate at IMMI, where she advances school bus occupant protection through industry education, OEM collaboration, and proactive safety policy efforts.

Read More →
Eric Kramlick of TransPar Group recognized as a 2026 School Bus Fleet Trailblazers winner, shown in a headshot alongside the Trailblazers award graphic.
Managementby Amanda HuggettMarch 18, 2026

2026 Trailblazer: Eric Kramlick of TransPar

Kramlick, 30, runs operations for TransPar in Hawaii, where he also showed dedication while helping Maui recover from the recent wildfires.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Jonquez Moore of Little Elm ISD recognized as a 2026 School Bus Fleet Trailblazers winner, shown in a headshot with the School Bus Fleet Trailblazers award graphic.
Managementby Amanda HuggettMarch 18, 2026

2026 Trailblazer: Jonquez Moore of Little Elm ISD

Moore, 32, grew up around the school bus, leading him to the classroom and eventually inspiring high-performing teams while bringing operations in house (twice).

Read More →
Joshua Baran of Odyssey Charter School recognized as a 2026 School Bus Fleet Trailblazers winner, pictured in a headshot next to the Trailblazers award graphic.
Managementby Elora HaynesMarch 18, 2026

2026 Trailblazer: Joshua Baran of Odyssey Charter School

Baran, 38, serves as transportation supervisor at Odyssey Charter School in Delaware, where he leads daily operations with a focus on safety and professional growth.

Read More →
Tyler Maybee of Denver Public Schools recognized as a 2026 School Bus Fleet Trailblazers winner, shown in a headshot with the U.S. Capitol in the background and the Trailblazers award graphic.
Managementby Elora HaynesMarch 18, 2026

2026 Trailblazer: Tyler Maybee of Denver Public Schools

Maybee, 36, leads transportation operations for Denver Public Schools, where he is advancing equity, efficiency, and cross-department collaboration to improve student access.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Lexi Higgins of Truckers Against Trafficking recognized as a 2026 School Bus Fleet Trailblazers winner, pictured in a headshot with the Trailblazers award graphic.
Managementby Elora HaynesMarch 18, 2026

2026 Trailblazer: Lexi Higgins of TAT

Higgins, 38, serves as director of industry engagement at TAT (Truckers Against Trafficking), where she equips school transportation professionals with the tools to recognize and report human trafficking.

Read More →