Bus driver allegedly slain by student (TN)

Lexington Herald-Leader ^ | March 3, 2005 | Gary Tanner

[CitizenM]

OTHERS ON SCHOOL BUS UNINJURED - "CUMBERLAND CITY, Tenn. - A 14-year-old boy was charged with shooting a school bus driver to death as she drove her morning route yesterday. A relative of the driver said she had reported the boy a day earlier for using smokeless tobacco on the bus."

[CitizenM]

Read more on this story Synopsis: Stewart County school bus driver Joyce Gregory was shot at the wheel of her bus at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday on an unpaved rural road just outside Cumberland City.

Authorities say a 14-year-old boy opened fire on the driver with a .45-caliber handgun as it stopped near his home to pick him up.

After the shooting, the bus — which carried 24 students ages 5 to 17 — was guided by one of the older students into a utility pole as it rolled backward. The children safely exited the bus; one went to a nearby home and called 911.

The suspect was taken into custody about 45 minutes after the shooting. Officials refused to release his name, but neighbors identified him as Jason Clinard.

District Attorney Dan Alsobrooks said the boy has been charged with first-degree murder in Juvenile Court and was being held without bond.

Public defender Jack Lockert met with the boy, who was taken to a juvenile detention facility and has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation during the next 30 days.

Schools were locked down for most of the day. As students were bused home in the afternoon, drivers hung black ribbons on their buses in tribute to their co-worker.

Services were conducted at several Stewart County churches last night for grieving friends and neighbors.

[Imaverygooddriver]

And he`ll be out in 5 years and liberals will blame it on the gun.

[Imaverygooddriver]

"We obviously feel like he has severe mental issues," Lockert said. "He's an A and B student and had never been in trouble before."

Here they go already.

[Drew68]

Public defender Jack Lockert, who met with the suspect for about 45 minutes, said he was in shock.

"We obviously feel like he has severe mental issues," Lockert said. "He's an A and B student and had never been in trouble before."

Jeez! What causes seemingly normal kids to just snap like this? I feel bad for the friends and families of both victim and shooter. A woman is dead and a young kid threw his life away in one moment of madness.

[Nik Naym]

"...and had never been in trouble before."

Oh yeah? Well the little P.O.S. is in trouble NOW.

[ambrose]

Oingo Boingo - Only a Lad Lyrics

Johnny was bad, even as a child everybody could tell
Everyone said if you don’t get straight
You’ll surely go to hell

But johnny didn’t care
He was an outlaw by the time that he was
Ten years old
He didn’t wanna do what he was told
Just a prankster, juvenile gangster

His teachers didn’t understand
They kicked him out of school
At a tender early age
Just because he didn’t want to learn things
(had other interests)
He liked to burn things

The lady down the block
She had a radio that johnny wanted oh so bad
So he took it the first chance he had
Then he shot her in the leg
And this is what she said
Only a lad
You really can’t blame him
Only a lad
Society made him
Only a lad
He’s our responsibility
Only a lad
He really couldn’t help it
Only a lad
He didn’t want to do it
Only a lad
He’s underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused

His parents gave up they couldn’t influence his attitude
Nobody could help
The little man had no gratitude

And when he stole the care
Nobody dreamed that he would
Try to take it so far
He didn’t mean to hit the poor man
Who had to go and die
It made the judge cry

Only a lad
He really couldn’t help it
Only a lad
He didn’t want to do it
Only a lad
He’s underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused

It’s not his fault that he can’t believe
It’s not his fault that he can’t behave
Society made him go astray
Perhaps if we’re nice he’ll go away
Perhaps he’ll go away
He’ll go away

(repeat chorus)

Hey there johnny you really don’t fool me
You get away with murder
And you think it’s funny
You don’t give a damn if we live or if we die
Hey there johnny boy
I hope you fry!

[PistolPaknMama]

This is no big deal really. This is a 14 year old child and he should just get a good whippin' and sent home to his grandma. The child is young and impressionable and will not make the same mistake when he is older and wiser. In 10 years his next murder will be more calculated and he won't be caught so easily. We should all be so grateful this nice young man will not be put to death. Thank you Supreme Court Justices! /sarcasm off

[CitizenM]

I encourage all of you to read both articles in both publications. This is indeed a very sad story, for all parties involved. Why a seemingly good child would go so berserk is heartbreaking and unbelievable.

[pnz1]

The defense attorney is saying in interviews that the boy originally intended to kill himself. I think he implied it was a last minute thing to kill the bus driver.

[ambrose]

Johnny was bad, even as a child everybody could tell
Everyone said if you don’t get straight
You’ll surely go to hell

But johnny didn’t care
He was an outlaw by the time that he was
Ten years old
He didn’t wanna do what he was told
Just a prankster, juvenile gangster

His teachers didn’t understand
They kicked him out of school
At a tender early age
Just because he didn’t want to learn things
(had other interests)
He liked to burn things

The lady down the block
She had a radio that johnny wanted oh so bad
So he took it the first chance he had
Then he shot her in the leg
And this is what she said
Only a lad
You really can’t blame him
Only a lad
Society made him
Only a lad
He’s our responsibility
Only a lad
He really couldn’t help it
Only a lad
He didn’t want to do it
Only a lad
He’s underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused

His parents gave up they couldn’t influence his attitude
Nobody could help
The little man had no gratitude

And when he stole the care
Nobody dreamed that he would
Try to take it so far
He didn’t mean to hit the poor man
Who had to go and die
It made the judge cry

Only a lad
He really couldn’t help it
Only a lad
He didn’t want to do it
Only a lad
He’s underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused

It’s not his fault that he can’t believe
It’s not his fault that he can’t behave
Society made him go astray
Perhaps if we’re nice he’ll go away
Perhaps he’ll go away
He’ll go away

(repeat chorus)

Hey there johnny you really don’t fool me
You get away with murder
And you think it’s funny
You don’t give a damn if we live or if we die
Hey there johnny boy
I hope you fry!

[ambrose]

NewsChannel5.com

Boy, 14, Under Arrest For Bus Driver’s Murder
Posted: 3/3/2005 8:25:00 AM
Updated: 3/3/2005 6:19:35 PM



A 14-year-old Stewart County boy accused of shooting his bus driver to death as she drove her morning route is in custody undergoing a mental evaluation.

Joyce Gregory, 47

Scene of a fatal school bus shooting in Steward County

The community of Cumberland City was mourning the loss of Joyce Gregory, 47, who was shot to death as she drove her bus.

Police arrested Jason Clinard, who was charged with delinquent first-degree murder in juvenile court. He was sent to Nashville for a 30 day mental evaluation.

Clinard, a student at Stewart County High school, was accused of shooting Gregory several times with a .45 caliber pistol when she arrived at his bus stop.

There were 24 students on the bus at the time of the shooting. They were between the ages of 5 and 17.

One student on the bus used a cell phone to call 911. Another took control of the bus and ran it into a utility pole to keep the bus from careening down a steep hill.

Gregory died at the scene. No one else was injured.

Police arrived and took Clinard into custody about 45 minutes after the shooting.

Community members expressed shock.

“I would have never expected it at our school. It didn't seem like anyone had it in them to do something like that,” said John Thurman, a Stewart County High School student.

Gregory's family members said Gregory tried to discipline Clinard on several occasions for using tobacco and cursing on the bus.

Police have not given a motive for the shooting.

A public defender who met with the suspect said Clinard was in shock and has severe mental issues.

The lawyer said Clinard has never been in trouble before.

Wednesday night, dozens of people gathered at First Baptist Church in Dover to pray for Gregory and Clinard.

"I can't imagine losing my son or the other family losing a daughter or a mother, but the survivors will suffer. We pray that they have peace and comfort," said Charlie Green, a Stewart County resident who attended the service.

Gregory's fellow bus drivers said they plan to mark her death by placing black ribbons on their buses.

[robertpaulsen]

Well, thank heavens the USSC ruled that he can't be executed.

Like he executed the defenseless and unsuspecting school bus driver.

[SaveTheChief]

There's only one way to make certain a murderer will never take another life. Thanks to a Supreme Court which believes International law and sentiment trumps the Constitution, this option no longer exists.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Hey, he was just dippin' and cussin'. She was tramplin' on his space. What did you expect him to do, take it? A man has got to be a man, especially at 14 when you can't whack him for it.

[GailA]

He will most likely be tried as an adult. Once convicted he will go to a juvenile facility until he turns 18. Then he will be transfered to an adult facility.

He starts serving his sentencing on the day the crime was committed. He will get day for day served for good behavior. Average time served is 33%.

First parole hearing can be as soon as 10 months after sentencing. Parole hearing can occur yearly unless you request more time in between each hearing.

I've fought 6 of them. My Jeremy's killer served 14.5 out of a 20 year sentence.

[GailA]

The SCOTUS ruling would not apply in Tennessee any way, our DP is only applied to those OVER 18.

[Kaslin]

He might have never been in trouble before, but all it takes is to get in with the wrong crowd. BTW Cumberland city is aproxomally 25 miles from me

[reg45]

I wish the bus driver were relsted to Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

[Kaslin]

Here is somewhat of an update. Please copy and paste the source in a new window as articles from the Leaf Chronicle can not be published

Stewart Co. fights through tears, fear Community copes with bus driver's fatal shooting

http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050304/NEWS01/503040323/1002

[Bogtrotter52]

I am sure that if you ask enough people you will find those who will say......Little Jeffy Dalmer? Yeah, great kid