A school bus driver has been charged in the shooting death of a young woman in Oxon Hill, Maryland, and has been placed on immediate leave by the school district.
Carlas William Carter, 37, a school bus driver from Alexandria, Virginia, and 34-year-old Mary Ashby have been charged with the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Tamara Jones. The incident occurred on Nov. 26 along Oxon Hill Road near Livingston Road.
Police found Jones with gunshot wounds inside a car around 2:45 a.m. She succumbed to her injuries three days later at the hospital, according to Prince George’s County police.
Investigators believe the suspects shot Jones following a dispute. Both Carter and Ashby were arrested in Virginia and will remain in custody there until they are extradited to Prince George’s County.
Parents of students at John Adams Elementary School and Alexandria City High School’s Minnie Howard Campus were notified through a letter from Alexandria City Public Schools. The letter stated, “We are writing to inform you that your child’s bus driver, Carlas William Carter, has been placed on leave from employment with Alexandria City Public Schools, effective immediately. Additional information is available at this link.”
Signed by MeChale’ Johnson, Director of Pupil Transportation and Fleet Management, the letter described the situation as “distressing” and assured families that support services were available for students needing assistance.
The school system confirmed that Carter has been placed on immediate leave.
