A bus driver in Charlotte, North Carolina was fired last month after using a firearm to defend himself.
Here’s What Happened
The confrontation began when the passenger, identified by authorities as Omarri Tobias, requested to be let off the bus between stops. The driver, David Fullard, informed Tobias that he would have to wait until the next approved stop.
WSOC-TV learned in court, “Tobias allegedly tried to ride the bus without paying, which prosecutors said helped lead to the confrontation.”
After a brief exchange and at least one expletive, Tobias brandished a gun and aimed it at Fullard. In response, Fullard also produced a firearm, and both individuals fired shots almost simultaneously.
CNN reports that the sequence of events remains unclear, including uncertainty about who fired first
Fullard sustained an arm injury, while Tobias was struck in the abdomen.
The incident was captured on video, showing Fullard stopping the bus and opening the shattered driver barrier, gun in hand. Tobias crawled towards the rear of the bus, where the two other passengers had relocated. Fullard fired another shot from the bus aisle.
Tobias and a passenger exited through the side door, while Fullard left through the front door, firing his gun again.
According to the transit system, both Fullard and Tobias are now in stable condition, expected to recover, and no other passengers were harmed in the incident
After six days in the hospital, Tobias was transferred to the care of authorities. He has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, communicating threats, and carrying a concealed firearm.
It remains uncertain whether Fullard will face charges.
The Bus Driver Is Facing Backlash
Fullard’s employer, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), terminated his employment following the incident. According to company policy, explained CEO Brent Cagle, weapons are strictly prohibited.
The transit system stated that Fullard failed to follow proper protocol by not attempting to de-escalate the situation and allowing Tobias to exit the bus before the next stop.
Fullard’s attorney, Ken Harris, emphasized that his client was a dedicated employee with over 19 years of service and is currently recovering from his injuries.
The attorney also highlighted the ongoing issue of bus drivers being assaulted or harmed while performing their duties.
“You have these incidents that happen over and over again, where drivers are being assaulted, shot at, shot, or killed,” said Harris on the local WCNC News.
“It creates a situation where drivers fear that they won’t make it home.“
SEE MORE: Concealed Carrier Shoots Attacker In Cemetery
Demands have been repeated to enhance security measures for drivers and provide safeguards to protect them in their workplace. Many of Fullard’s fellow drivers have spoken out about their safety.
“We do understand that we are dealing with the general public,” WBTV quotes one CATS driver as saying, “But we expect to be taken care of.”
Tobias is currently held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court. Police are continuing their investigation into the incident.
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Democrats do not want you to defend yourself, that’s why they’re trying so hard to remove your 2nd amendment rights. Wake up sheep before it’s too late and you’re a subject.
Charlotte is liberal democrat run city and carrying a gun is highly restricted in the city limits. I try my best to stay as far away from the city of my birth and first fourteen years of life as possible these days. The Demonicrats have ruined a once beautiful city and now there’s hardly a day goes by without young black thugs shooting each other or some innocent citizen/citizens!
Common sense dictates the best choice (without knowing what happened next) would have been to let the dirtbag off the bus. He already broke the law, misdemeanor at best- and passengers wouldn’t have been at risk. Bus driver maintains job, no medical bills (easily could have been funeral costs) and said dirtbag wouldn’t have a reason to pull gun first next time and not give somebody a chance to be a ‘hero.’
‘ Fella might have made a better getaway , had his breeches
waistband not been worn about his knees .
May I ax a question, and I’ll try to be pacific?
I drove for Charlotte Ambulance Service about sixty years ago in Charlotte and there were areas that we responded to with police escorts depending on the call. I carried a blackjack way back then for some protection and can tell some hair raising stories about calls we ran.
I was five year old chap living off North Tryon street then! Some parts of Charlotte (northwest) we white folks stayed out of after dark!
2A supporters should organize a “bus strike” by placing a 2A supporter at every bus stop, and as the door opens ask “Are Concealed Carry Citizens allowed?”
And of course being told “No”, they then waive the bus on to the next stop … hopefully for another 2A supporter to repeat.
It’s not even “civil ‘disobedience'” since no laws are broken. But it would sure put the city on notice.
The bus system in most cities serves their area’s most crime-ridden routes. Even so-called “safe” routes are subject to occasional violence as criminal activity slowly spreads. Bus companies talk all the time, like the Charlotte CEO, about “passenger safety” but seldom mention driver safety in the same breath (and the Charlotte CEO, from what I was able to hear, was no exception.)
Drivers should be armed if companies aren’t willing to properly protect them from violence, including bullet-resistant glass at the driver’s seat. Having a driver who is somewhat impervious to being disabled by assault or gunfire would seem to me a vital consideration when discussing “passenger safety.” I hope that someday this too-obvious reality finally reaches comany management!
As usual the zero cash bail, reduced fines, reclassifying violent felonies to misdemeanors and poor followup of early released criminals policies wrapped in the words “SAFE” and common sense” now you have this trend exploding . Oh and theyd rather you be a victim than challenge the narrative of utopian safety of laws that really ever affect legal law abiding citizens. That my friends is the 21st century definition of Tyranny!
So… we have a company that violates a man’s god-given rights. Which companies are going to start requiring people to own slaves?
I HOPE FULLARD SUES THE BUS COMPANY,USING THE 2NDF AMMENDENT AS HIS JUSTIFACATION!
SHOOT dat BEE-otch AGAIN.
Let that mealy woke white boy, drive the ‘effin bus…. sheee-it !
Like!
The bus company spokesman said that what they will be doing will make passengers and employees safer. If they do not have armed security against armed thugs, they will not have a chance to be safe. 99% of the time the rides are safe. How about the 1% that can be deadly? Easy for him to say, he is not on the busses all day long.
As someone that has lived in CLT for 65 years, this used to be a great city to live in and raise a family. People were kind and took care of each other. Then was a mass influx of rude northerners with their liberal/socialistic, entitlement, attitudes.
Then the BLM crowd voted out all the conservatives and voted in mayors that believe de-funding the police is the answer, voted in known thugs onto the city council, voted in soft-on-crime judges, DA’s, anti-2nd amendment sheriffs that do everything in their power to interfere with legal gun ownership and the right to protect oneself.
Charlotte was once known as one of the friendliest city in the nation to live in before this blight moved in, now it’s known as one of the rudest. Socialism at it’s finest!
And now the Mecklenburg County Sheriff McFadden refuses to work with ICE on the illegal alien problem and turns them back out on the streets? I’m ashamed of the city of my childhood!
I would hope the 2A community would come together and support this man much like we do others who get caught in a similar circumstance.