Dad arrested on school bus

Parent Charged After Boarding School Bus With Gun

By Misty Gammons-Green

MACON COUNTY, Tenn. — A Macon County parent is facing a felony charge after allegedly boarding a school bus while carrying a loaded firearm and confronting the bus driver and children about an alleged bullying incident involving his child. According to an affidavit of complaint filed in Macon County General Sessions Court, Zachary Gray is charged with carrying weapons on school property, a felony under Tennessee Code Annotated 39-17-1309, and criminal trespass, under TCA 39-14-405. The incident occurred Sept. 11 on Macon County School Bus 16. According to the affidavit, Gray boarded the bus to confront the bus driver and children regarding allegations that his child was being bullied. The affidavit states that Gray had a loaded firearm on his person when he boarded the bus. According to the document, when Gray was asked what had occurred on the bus, he reportedly stated that he had taken two steps onto the bus and did not know it was illegal. Gray reportedly said he asked the bus driver what he was going to do about the bullying. The affidavit states that Gray then raised his voice at the children and told them to stop bullying. The affidavit was signed by Sgt. Trent Tuttle of the Macon County Sheriff’s Department. A probable-cause determination was made by a Macon County judicial commissioner, who found probable cause to believe Gray committed the offenses listed in the affidavit. The document indicates that an arrest warrant shall issue. The firearm was not reportedly discharged during the incident. The affidavit alleges that Gray had the loaded firearm on his person while entering the school bus. The incident began as a dispute concerning alleged bullying involving Gray’s child. However, entering school property while armed can result in serious criminal charges under Tennessee law. Parents who believe their children are being bullied or are experiencing problems at school are encouraged to address those concerns through school administrators and other appropriate officials rather than confronting students or entering school property while armed. The charges against Gray are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.