20-Year-Old Accused Of Pointing Gun At School Bus Driver In Terrifying Road Rage Confrontation Indicted: DA

The tantrum on the Taconic has led to felony weapons and child endangerment charges, according to the Westchester District Attorney.

By Jeff Edwards, Patch Staff

Jul 22, 2026 9:55 am EDT | Updated Jul 22, 2026 11:44 am EDT

New York State Police at Hawthorne received a walk-in complaint about the disturbing incident involving a firearm that took place on the Taconic State Parkway southbound, near Exit 3 in the Town of Mount Pleasant. (NYSP)

MOUNT PLEASANT, NY —An indictment has been returned in an infamous Westchester County road rage case involving special needs students on a school bus.

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced that 20-year-old Michael Alarcon, of Mahopac, was arraigned on weapons and other charges stemming from a disturbing incident that occurred on the Taconic Parkway in February.

Alarcon was arraigned on a nine-count indictment charging him with two counts of second-degree felony criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of third-degree felony criminal possession of a weapon, menacing, endangering the welfare of a child, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Alarcon was arraigned in White Plains. He remains free on bail and is due back in court on October 14.

On Feb. 4, while driving on the Taconic Parkway in the Town of Mount Pleasant, Alarcon pointed what appeared to be a pistol at a school bus driver who was transporting three young special needs children, according to police. He was spotted driving the vehicle later that day and police recovered a loaded Walther P22 .22-caliber handgun equipped with a green laser and weapon-mounted light from a duffel bag on the front passenger seat, investigators said, The firearm's serial number had been defaced and could not be read, cops reported.

"The defendant’s alleged actions in this case were egregious. The fact that the victims in this incident were special needs children only amplifies the recklessness," Cacace said. "Thankfully, he was quickly apprehended by police and no one was injured."

This case was investigated by the New York State Police and is part of an effort from the Cacace administration and the NYSP to ensure safer roadways for Westchester residents. Recently, both agencies announced a joint initiative, named D.A.S.H., that is stepping up enforcement against reckless driving on Westchester’s highways.

More about the D.A.S.H. initiative can be found here.