Man accused of trying to break out windows of school bus with students on board

PILOT OAK. Ky. (KBSI) – A convicted felon faces dozens of charges after the Graves County sheriff says he tried to break out windows of a school bus with several children on board.

Andrew D. Bruner, 41, of the Pilot Oak area faces 31 counts of wanton endangerment, 31 counts of menacing, three counts of criminal mischief, resisting arrest, attempted 2nd degree burglary, public intoxication, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass 3rd degree.

Graves County sheriff’s deputies were notified that a Graves County school bus and other vehicles were being accosted by a man wearing blue jeans and no shirt in the area of Pilot Oak at the intersection of Ky. Hwy. 94 and Ky. Hwy. 129 around 2:56 p.m. on Thursday, April 25.

The man reportedly tried to break out windows on the school bus and other vehicles driving through the area.

Numerous sheriff’s deputies responded to the area. As they were enroute, another call came in of an attempted residential burglary also in that same area.

As deputies arrived on scene, they saw Bruner on Ky. Hwy. 129 south of Ky. Hwy. 94 in the yard of a home.

Sheriff’s deputies say Bruner was yelling and “obviously manifestly under the influence of some sort of drug(s).”

He was arrested after having to be physically tackled by deputies.

Deputies say he tried at one point to escape from a sheriff’s cruiser but was quickly subdued.

As the Graves County school bus stopped at the intersection, Sheriff Jon Hayden says Bruner approached the bus and began hitting the bus windows. Witnesses described as him trying to knock the windows out. Sheriff Hayden says Bruner also broke a driver side mirror on the bus.

The bus contained 29 students, the bus driver and a bus monitor.

The bus driver immediately pulled forward to prevent any harm to the students. As other vehicles passed through, the suspect caused damage to at least two additional vehicles, according to Sheriff Hayden.

No children or other people were injured.

After this, Sheriff Hayden says the suspect went on foot to a home on Ky Hwy 129 and tried to enter into a home with force, breaking a window try to gain access.

The homeowner armed his/herself and called 911.

Two-armed Graves County School Resource Officers also responded to the scene to assist in the security of the children on the bus.

Bruner was taken to Jackson Purchase Medical Center for treatment of his injuries he sustained in his arrest as well to monitor his intoxicated state, according to Sheriff Hayden.

Once he is medically cleared, he will be taken to an out of county detention facility.

Bruner is a convicted felon for the residential burglary in the Pilot Oak area in 2021 and the theft of a firearm in 2022.