CA Bus Driver Ditches Passengers And Goes To School With Gun: Police

VICTORVILLE, CA — A bus driver abandoned his passengers and entered a Victorville school with a gun before being arrested earlier in the week, according to authorities.

The incident occurred around 11:15 a.m. Monday, when 28-year-old Joshua Aldana left his public transit bus near Lakeview Leadership Academy and went into the campus lobby, authorities said.

“It is unknown why Aldana entered the lobby,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.

Academy officials saw that Aldana appeared to be in an altered state and notified campus security as well as the school resource officer, who detained Aldana and found a loaded 9 mm handgun in Aldana’s possession, according to the department.

Aldana, of Victorville, was charged with gun possession on a school campus and gun possession while under the influence of drugs, authorities said, adding he was booked into the High Desert Detention Center.

Victor Valley Transit Authority said in a prepared statement that Aldana had undergone rigorous hiring procedures and passed drug tests, but that he was no longer employed by the service.

“VVTA Dispatch and Road Supervisors responded swiftly to the incident, taking immediate
control of bus operations to ensure the safety and continuity of service for passengers,” the statement said. “We remain committed to monitoring the situation closely and cooperating with law enforcement as they continue their investigation.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 760-241-2911. To remain anonymous, call We-Tip at 1-800-782-7463 or go to www.wetip.com.