Parole Denied in 1996 Bus Shooting

On August 28, 2024, via a virtual hearing, TCDA prosecutors secured a three-year denial of parole for Gary Parsons, age 50, for the murder of a man on a bus that was passing through Tulare County. Parsons is currently serving his sentence at California State Prison, Los Angeles County in Lancaster.

On June 23, 1996, Parsons was on a bus which he initially boarded in Los Angeles with a destination of Sacramento. Parsons started speaking to another passenger, who was riding the bus with his seven-year-old son. Parsons stated he wanted to do some drugs. The passenger warned him against it by saying that the bus driver would throw him off the bus. Parsons displayed a revolver in his waistband and said, “No, he won’t.”

While the bus was stopped at a station in Goshen, witnesses on the bus heard a “firecracker” sound and observed an adult male victim, a passenger, bleeding from his ear. Parsons exited the bus, only to get back on, after which he approached the victim and fired another shot into his head. Parsons fled, only to return to the bus station where he was arrested. Parsons did not know the victim and had no previous interactions with him.

In 1997, Parsons was tried and convicted of murder with the use of a firearm. He was sentenced to 35 years-to-life in prison.

The Office of the District Attorney regularly attends life parole hearings, and a deputy district attorney argued against the inmate’s release in this case. At the hearing, commissioners noted that they believe Parsons poses an unreasonable risk to the community.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494