A confrontation at a school bus stop in Citrus County escalated into a criminal case Thursday morning when a father allegedly drew a handgun on a substitute driver, then told her it was her “lucky day” after learning she was not the regular operator.
CITRUS SPRINGS, FL – Deputies say Otoniel Carlos O’Valle approached a stopped school bus around 8:10 a.m. at the intersection of North Velvet Terrace and West Bromin Court and confronted the driver while students were present. The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office said O’Valle, identified as the father of two elementary school-age children who use the stop, became upset over prior interactions involving his children.
According to investigators, O’Valle walked up to the open bus door and “removed an all black handgun from his waistband,” then asked the driver if she was the regular driver. When she said she was a substitute, deputies say he responded that it was her “lucky day,” before returning the firearm to his pocket and explaining he was angry because the regular driver had previously yelled at his children.
Evidence and witness accounts
The incident was reported to a school resource officer at Citrus Springs Elementary School, prompting a response and investigation by the sheriff’s office. Deputies said the bus aide “corroborated the driver’s account” of what happened at the stop.
Investigators also cited onboard surveillance in their findings. Deputies said they “reviewed onboard audio and video footage, which captured the driver identifying the weapon upon arrival and showed O’Valle holding an object consistent with a firearm before placing it in his pocket.”
Authorities emphasized that under Florida law, a designated school bus stop is treated as an extension of school property, making the presence of a firearm at the scene a potential criminal violation.
Charges and arrest
O’Valle has been charged with aggravated assault on a public transit employee and possession of a firearm on school property, the sheriff’s office announced Friday. He was later arrested by the Ocala Police Department. Information about his initial court appearance has not been released.
Sheriff David Vincent addressed the incident in a statement, warning of consequences for threats involving school environments. “Anyone who threatens or brings harm toward a Citrus County school, its staff, or our children will face an immediate and uncompromising response from law enforcement,” Vincent said. “We will not allow anyone to endanger the safety of our students or the people who protect them.”
