On Jan. 24, a school bus carrying 13 children made a 100-mile journey with a Philadelphia bus driver who was carrying a loaded semiautomatic rifle.
According to the Associated Press, after a six hour search by road and air, the bus, driven by Otto Nuss, was found at the Family Dollar store in Landover Hills, Maryland. Nuss gave himself up to off-duty police officer Milton Chabla, who was working security at the store.
None of the 13 children was hurt during the ordeal. The children, students of the Berks Christian School in Birdsboro, Penn., had been picked up at Oley Valley High School in Oley for a daily six-mile trip to their school. The students ranged in age from six to 16.
According to the Associated Press, Nuss’ intentions were not clear, however he will face federal kidnapping charges. Cpl. Diane Richardson of the Prince George’s County police told the Associated Press that Nuss “indicated he had taken them [the students] against their will and he wanted to turn himself in.”
“He wanted the kids to be OK and let their parents know they were OK,” Chabla told the Associated Press.
Nuss was an employee of the Quigley Bus Service. Those who had worked with Nuss and who saw him that day reportedly saw nothing suspicious in his behavior.
Parents of the children, along with counselors and ministers, traveled to Maryland by bus to pick up the children.
Closer to campus, on Jan. 24 that a former Southington school bus driver has lost his gun permit, following charges that he carried on loaded gun on his school bus.
According to the Associated Press, a .22-caliber revolver was found on the bus of Jody Osher, an employee of the New Britain Transportation Company. It was being held in a holster on a utility box located behind the driver’s seat.
Osher faced five charges, including risk of injury to a minor, possession of a weapon on school grounds, and improper storage of a loaded firearm. He was arraigned in Superior Court on Jan. 23.
According to the Associated Press, Osher said that he was fueling buses the day the gun was found, and that he had worn the jacket, which contained the gun in its pocket, to keep warm.