A 72-year-old bus driver was stabbed to death in Pasco, Washington as several elementary school-aged children watched the horrific scene unfold on Friday.

Richard Lenhart was attacked by an adult male while transporting Longfellow Elementary children from school just after 3 p.m according to KEPR.

Police indicated that the man slipped on the bus as the kids were boarding it just outside of the school before stabbing him at least once.

Officers arrived on the scene and were able to apprehend the suspect without further incident. Detectives planned to process the crime scene through the night, according to Captain Bill Parramore.

(Video Credit: KNDU25)

The captain explained that no students were injured, although they were on the bus and outside the school at the time of the attack. The children on the bus were brought back to the school and their parents were called to pick them up.

It’s unclear if the bus was in motion at the time of the assault, but after the incident, the bus was found popped up over a curb and crashed into the bushes.

The driver was brought quickly to an area hospital to be treated, but he died at the facility.

“The Pasco Police Department will work in close partnership with the Pasco School District through this investigation,” Parramore said in a news conference. “The Pasco School District sends school district counselors to Longfellow and the transportation office to support students and staff.”

(Video Credit: KEPR)

The Pasco School District Superintendent, Michelle Whitney released a statement about the tragedy.

“It is with a heavy heart that I write to you this evening. Pasco Police Department shared information at a press conference earlier tonight that one of our bus drivers was assaulted today and died from his injuries. We are devastated by the tragic loss of one of our own. Our focus right now is on supporting our students and staff who are deeply impacted by this tragedy.”

“Counselors will be available over the weekend and next week to provide support for students and staff. Events like these can trigger strong and unexpected emotional reactions,” she continued. “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s school counselor or principal if you or your child need support. We are deeply saddened by the events of today. As our community processes these events, please keep a watchful eye on each other and reach out if you need us.”

The Mayor also released a statement about the heart-wrenching incident, expressing that he is in “deep shock over the senseless death” and will seek to “find solutions to continue to make Pasco safe.”

Bus stops appear to have become dangerous territory this week.

An Oklahoma incident left a pastor in bloody shambles after he allegedly touched a boy inappropriately as the boy waited at the bus stop.

Father beats down preacher accused of touching boy inappropriately https://t.co/G1oIzj3Ofb pic.twitter.com/jK0Vvp7nV3

— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) September 26, 2021

The 9-year-old boy’s father waited by the bus stop armed with a camera and apparently captured footage of a jogger who stopped and touched his son inappropriately before he proceeded to give him a mighty dose of “dad justice” and beat the pervert up, leaving him bruised and bloody with a cracked eye socket and skull.

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