Earlier this month, a bus driver and a passenger were shot on a bus in Charlotte, injuring two people, transit authorities said. According to a press release from the Charlotte Area Transit System, the incident began when a bus passenger identified by authorities as Omarri Sharif Tobias stood up while the bus was moving and asked the driver to drop him off between designated stops . Driver David Fullard told Tobias to wait until the next stop. After talking for about two minutes, Tobias pulled out a gun and pointed it at Foulard, the dispatcher said. Fullard also fired a gun at that point, Transportation Systems said. Company spokesman Brandon Hunter told CNN by phone Saturday that the two men fired "one after another," but it was unclear who fired first. According to the transport system, Fullard was hit in the hand and Tobias was hit in the stomach. Dramatic video of the encounter shows Foulard stopping the bus and pushing through the driver's side barrier, which was broken. His gun is not yet loaded. As Tobias ran behind a bus carrying two other passengers, Fullard fired another round with his handgun into the aisle of the bus. Tobias and the other passengers exited the bus through the side door, and Fullard exited the bus through the front door and fired the gun again, the transit system said. Fullard and Tobias are in stable condition and expected to recover, while the other two passengers were uninjured, the transit system said in a statement Wednesday. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said in a news release that Tobias was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery, menacing and carrying a concealed firearm. It is unclear whether Fullard will face criminal charges. Fullard was fired by RATP Dev, an employer that employs the transit system's bus operators, Hunter told CNN on Saturday. CNN has reached out to RATP Dev for comment. Possession of firearms or other weapons while at work or on company property is prohibited by company workplace rules, and employees may be fired for the first offense while on public transportation. The Charlotte Area Transit System said Fullard did not follow proper protocol. Transportation Systems said it would be "reasonable for the bus company to try to defuse the situation by allowing the suspect/passenger to get off the bus before it gets to the next stop." With Fullard still recovering from his injuries, his lawyer told CNN on Saturday that Fullard, who has been an anchor for more than 19 years, "is a dedicated employee and loves his job." “Over the years we have represented a number of CATS drivers. Some of them have been assaulted or shot on the job, attorney Ken Harris told CNN via email. "They consider themselves civil servants. Because of their dedication, hard work and the risks they face on the job, we continue to support CATS in improving driver safety measures,” said Harris. Tobias is currently being held on $250,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court in June. CNN was unable to locate an attorney for him. Police said they are conducting further investigations into the case.
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