A bus driver and a passenger were captured shooting at each other during an argument over bus stops.
Footage from surveillance cameras shows a terrifying incident that took place on a bus in North Carolina involving the bus driver, David Fullard, and a passenger named Omarri Tobias.
The altercation reportedly began when Tobias, aged 22, requested to exit the bus between stops.
Fullard denied his request and refused to stop the bus, then Tobias threatened him, pulling out a gun, which prompted Fullard to retrieve his own weapon.
"I dare you to touch me," Tobias could be heard yelling.
The two men then can be seen exchanging gunfire with bullets shattering the Plexiglas in the driver's area.
Two passengers can be seen seeking cover during the bizarre and scary scene.
Both Fullard and Tobias sustained injuries during the shootout, with Fullard being shot in the arm and Tobias in the abdomen.
Fullard continued to shoot at Tobias as he crawled away and escaped from the bus.
Both individuals are currently recovering from their wounds. Police said Tobias remains hospitalised with life-threatening injuries, while Fullard is recovering at home.
Fullard has since been removed from his position, as the transit system prohibits employees from carrying firearms and believes he failed to de-escalate the situation properly.
Interim Charlotte Area Transit System CEO Brent Cagle said: "We don't want anyone possessing weapons on our vehicles."
From his side, Fullard's attorney claimed that his client acted out of fear for his safety, as many other drivers express concerns about their well-being while on the job.
Ken Harris said: "I hear it from a lot of my clients. What they want to do is do their job, but they also want to get home."
Brandon Hunter, a spokesperson for Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) told CNN: "It would have been reasonable for the operator to attempt to de-escalate the situation by allowing the suspect/passenger to exit the bus before arriving at the next bus stop."
CATS noted however that Fullard was "a dedicated employee and treasured his employment."
He added: "Ninety-nine percent of the time we have trips that don't have any type of altercation like this. So, this is an anomaly based on our system."
It was also reported that Tobias allegedly tried to ride the bus without paying, which prosecutors said helped lead to the confrontation, according to WSOC-TV.
Fullard hasn't been charged in relation to the incident as of yet, while Tobias faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injuries, communicating threats, and carrying a concealed firearm.
He was given a $250,000 bond and was also banned from riding any type of CATS services.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
