Former Hamilton County School Bus Driver Who Killed 6 Children Arrested On New Felony Charges

Image Credit: Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office & National Transportation Safety Board / Public Domain

Tennessee Conservative News [By Olivia Lupia] –

The criminal record of a school bus driver previously convicted of killing six Hamilton County children in a crash has expanded as he was arrested last year for sex offender violations and recently arrested again on charges including felony burglary and assault. 

Johnthony Walker, now 34, was originally convicted in 2016 on six counts of criminally negligent homicide, 11 counts of reckless aggravated assault, and seven counts of assault after the bus crash resulted in the deaths of six students from Woodmore Elementary School and the injury of dozens more. 

Walker lost control of the bus after reportedly driving at high speeds along an unauthorized route and using his phone while driving, causing it to strike a pole and tree before it flipped on its side. There were 37 children on the bus, and none of the victims were older than 10 years old. He was sentenced to four years in prison but went free on bail pending appeal. 

While out on bail in 2019 Walker was then indicted on rape charges, pleading guilty to eight counts of aggravated statutory rape and one count of sexual exploitation of a minor for having sex with a 14-year-old girl. A police affidavit confirmed Walker admitted to having sex with the underage girl five times over several months. 

He accepted a plea deal for a prison sentence of six years and one month to run consecutively with his four-year sentence from the bus crash and was required to register as a sex offender.

Denied parole in 2023, Walker was ultimately released from prison in August 2025. About a month later, he was found at an apartment in Goodlettsville and taken into custody on charges including two counts of failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements, though was again apparently released.

Now, Walker is facing seven new charges for assaulting his ex-girlfriend, who was also his prior rape victim, and her daughter on July 23 in the Nashville area. According to court documents, Walker came to the woman’s apartment without her consent and forced entry when she opened the door, rushing inside and tackling her.

He allegedly began accusing her of cheating with other men and demanded she give him her phone. She said she punched and kicked him and tried to call 911, but that Walker grabbed her phone and punched, kicked, and briefly strangled her. 

When the woman told her 4-year-old daughter who witnessed the incident to run and get help, Walker tripped the young child then fled the scene with the victim’s phone, per the authorities. The woman reportedly told police that she had broken up with Walker months earlier and believed he did not know where she lived which is why she answered the door.

Police reported bruising, scratches, and a fractured arm on the woman, corroborating the assault, and Walker was taken into custody on July 27. 

He was booked into the Davidson County jail and faces charges of felony child abuse without injury to a child 8 or less, interference with an emergency call, felony aggravated assault, felony aggravated burglary, and several felony sex offender registration violations, including contacting or coming within 100 feet of a former victim. 

Bond was set at $72,000, but the inmate records show Walker, who was previously listed as homeless, is currently ineligible for release because a domestic violence hold, court order, and pending added charges.

Walker did not appear on his initially scheduled court date of July 29, likely as court orders and charges were being finalized, but has been rescheduled to appear on August 5.

About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.