Bus driver shot and stabbed HIMSELF before making up story that only his Bible had stopped fatal bullets fired at him in supposed hate attack

Rickey Wagoner claimed he was assaulted by two men on Feb. 24

Told police two bullets were fired and hit an inch-thick book filled with Bible verses

Authorities said his story isn't supported by evidence or testing

A white bus driver's story that a religious book in his shirt pocket blocked bullets as he was attacked by three black men isn't supported by evidence and testing, Dayton police said Wednesday as they closed the case, which had been investigated as a possible hate crime.

Bus driver Rickey Wagoner's story that a religious book in his shirt pocket blocked bullets as he was attacked by three black men isn't supported by evidence and testing

Rickey Wagoner, 49, told police he was outside his city bus Feb. 24 when men assaulted him.

He said that two bullets hit the inch-thick book containing Bible verses and that one hit his leg and that he was stabbed in the arm, according to a police report.



The report also said Wagoner told police he grabbed the gun and shot at the fleeing men.

Wagoner had told police that the assailants were black and that he thought the attack might have been a gang initiation.



According to the New York Post, Wagoner called a 911 dispatcher stating: 'I've been hit in the leg. My chest feels like I've been hit with a sledgehammer.'

He later told police that one of the alleged attackers had told another that he needed to 'shoot a polar bear... if you want to be all the way in the club.'

'Polar bear' is a term for a white person, the supposed use of which gave the FBI reason ton investigate Wagoner's story as a potential hate crime.



But his account wasn't found to be factual, Police Chief Richard Biehl said at a news conference.

'This assault, as reported, is not true, not accurate,' Biehl said.

Police did not say Wagoner made up the story and didn't explain why he would have made the report.

Biehl did say it appeared Wagoner owed on back taxes.

A recording at a phone listing for Wagoner said the voice mail could not accept more messages.

No criminal charges have been filed.



But the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority said Wednesday that it has charged Wagoner with violating its employee standards.

Police did extensive testing, including simulating the shots fired into the book.

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Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority said Wednesday that it has charged Wagoner with violating its employee standards

Biehl said it wasn't credible to believe that bullets didn't pass through the book into Wagoner.

Biehl also said that only Wagoner's DNA was found at the scene and that his injuries weren't consistent with defensive wounds.

A blue bandana found at the scene was found to have only dog hairs on it, and a surveillance video that captured the bus recorded the sound of five gunshots when Wagoner claimed that there were only three fired.



Wagoner's screams can be heard on the video however on the 911 call the 320-pound bus driver does not appear winded despite claiming he'd run up to 300 feet and fought for his life.





