Country star's bus driver shot on I-35E

TexasStooge · #1 Postby **TexasStooge** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:05 am

By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA-TV

CARROLLTON, Texas — A bus driver employed by country singer Toby Keith was hit by gunfire overnight in Carrollton.

Keith's equipment bus was headed northbound in the center lane of Interstate 35E near the President George Bush Turnpike at 11:15 p.m. Monday when someone fired a single shot.

The small-caliber bullet entered the driver's side of the bus and hit George Hampton, 55, in the upper left thigh.

"Obviously, shot through a steel bus like this—this is really unusual," said Carrollton Police Department spokesman Sgt. David Sponhour. "It could have turned really ugly if the driver either passed out or lost control of the bus."

Hampton, of Midlothian, was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas for treatment. He was reported in good condition.

There were three other people asleep on the equipment bus with Hampton. No one else was hurt.

Toby Keith was not traveling with the unmarked equipment bus, which was en route to the singer's home base in Oklahoma City from West Palm Beach, Fla. Keith's next scheduled performance is in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Thursday.

Carrollton police said it appears a small-caliber handgun was used in the shooting, but they do not believe this was a case of road rage. Investigators were looking for witnesses who can provide additional information about the incident.

Toby Keith won 4 awards at the 2004 Academy of Country Music awards, including Entertainer of the Year and Top Male Vocalist.

#2 Postby **alicia-w** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 11:17 am

Wow, just dont buy the CDs, man! You dont have to shoot the guy!

TexasStooge · #3 Postby **TexasStooge** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 12:06 pm

alicia-w wrote:Wow, just dont buy the CDs, man! You dont have to shoot the guy!

Good point.

#4 Postby **wx247** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 5:45 pm

I don't think it was on purpose, was it? That is scary. I hope he recovers quickly.

#5 Postby **alicia-w** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 7:27 am

How do you accidentally shoot a bus?

GalvestonDuck · #6 Postby **GalvestonDuck** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 8:15 am

alicia-w wrote:How do you accidentally shoot a bus?

LOL! He don't think he meant was the shooting accidental. He probably just meant, was the shooter targeting the bus on purpose because it was Toby Keith's bus? I heard about it on the radio yesterday and they said they didn't think it was intentionally against Keith because there's no signage to label it as a Toby Keith tour bus.

#7 Postby **alicia-w** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 9:39 am

well you know me, if a comment can be twisted to mean something else, i'll find it....

GalvestonDuck · #8 Postby **GalvestonDuck** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 9:54 am

alicia-w wrote:well you know me, if a comment can be twisted to mean something else, i'll find it....

*snicker* Okay. :lol:

#9 Postby **wx247** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 11:04 am

Thanks Shawn for clarifying things for me. I guess I need an interpreter. :lol:

Country star's bus driver shot on I-35E

Country star's bus driver shot on I-35E

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