**Charlotte Bus Driver Fired After Bravely Defending Himself and Passengers**
A Charlotte bus driver has been fired for heroically defending himself and his passengers against an armed assailant. The armed felon, Omar Shariff Tobias, got into a shootout with the driver, who had no choice but to respond with his own weapon. The bus company’s dismissal of the driver is sending a dangerous message.
The incident took place on May 18 when a Charlotte-area public bus became the scene of a dramatic shootout. A hooded man, Omarri Shariff Tobias, tried to board without paying, leading to a verbal altercation with bus driver David Fullard. The tension escalated until Tobias, a convicted felon, pulled a gun on Fullard, leading the driver to draw his own handgun in self-defense.
Surveillance videos captured the multiple shots fired between the two men as terrified passengers ducked for cover. Tobias eventually retreated down the center aisle on his stomach before taking cover towards the rear of the bus. Fullard pursued the armed assailant and fired three more shots, managing to hit Tobias in the abdomen.
Despite wounds to his arm, Fullard followed Tobias off the bus, firing a final shot before the confrontation came to an end. After being treated in the hospital, Tobias was taken to jail, facing multiple charges.
As a consequence of his heroic response, Fullard has been fired by the bus company, which claims possessing a weapon on its property or while doing their job is against company policy.
**Ignoring Heroism and Inviting Danger**
The bus company’s dismissal of driver David Fullard sends a troubling message that their policy values compliance over personal safety. By choosing to punish a brave person who defied a dangerous felon, the company may unwittingly open the door to future threats, putting the lives of passengers and employees at risk.
