School bus driver to be arraigned after his loaded gun was discovered on bus by students

A bus driver accused of bringing a loaded gun onto a school bus is expected to be in court today.

Police say the gun fell out of the driver’s pocket while he was cleaning the bus after elementary school students were dropped off.

Police arrested David Tripp, 65, on Friday. Even though the bus driver had a license to carry, he faces several charges, including reckless endangerment of a child and carrying a firearm on campus.

Tripp has been banned from transporting students from Norfolk Public Schools and King Philip Regional School District, but his employment status remains in question with the bus company.

Police say that Tripp was cleaning the bus on Thursday after dropping off Norfolk Elementary School students and the loaded .45 caliber handgun fell out of his pocket. Tripp didn’t know it was back there until he heard the seventh and eighth graders talking about the gun when they were boarding the back of the bus.

Fortunately, police say none of the kids picked the gun up and Tripp put it in his pocket and continued his route. He never reported the incident to police or school officials. But a parent called police Thursday night.

“Our town is very quiet you know it’s a great place to live so I don’t understand why you would have to have a gun while you was driving the bus,” said Sue Kinnear of Franklin.

“You don’t think a bus driver would be that irresponsible,” said Mel Kinnear. “Why does he need a loaded gun with little kids?”

Police say when they initially asked Tripp about the incident, he lied. Tripp’s license to carry will be suspended and if he has any other firearms they will be seized.

Starting today, counselors will be on hand if students need help or want to talk about the incident.

“The message for students is that they did a phenomenal job of doing exactly what they should have done, notify an adult and didn’t handle the fire on themselves,” said Paul Zinni, the King Philip Regional School District Superintendent.

Cox Media Group