Bus Driver Killed Coworker Over Gambling Debt, Authorities Say

A San Jose, Calif., man has been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing his coworker over an unpaid debt. 

On Sunday, Sept. 22, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office named Duc Minh Bui, 33, as the employee who was taken into custody near his San Jose home just after noon that day. 

The victim was identified by KTVU as Regulus “Reggie” Teotico, 45. According to the news station, Bui is now facing a first-degree murder charge. 

“Evidence suggests Bui is solely responsible for the victim’s death. Both worked at VTA [Valley Transportation Authority],” a tweet shared by the sheriff’s office stated. 

The deadly shooting took place on Friday, Sept. 20, at the Chaboya Division Yard, the social media post added. 

In a previous post shared by the sheriff’s office in the early morning hours of Saturday, Sept. 21, SCCS said they were “actively investigating a shooting that occurred at the @VTA Chaboya Division Yard.”

“One victim was involved and has been pronounced deceased. Our Homicide and Crime Scene Detectives are actively investigating the crime scene,” the tweet concluded. 

Teotico had been employed with the VTA for 10 years, and would hang out with Bui outside of work, KTVU reported on Monday, Sept. 23, citing Captain Sugey Jaimez.

“They were known to participate in the same activities outside of their VTA employment,” Sheriff’s Capt. Sugey Jaimez said, the Mercury News reported. “We believe the motive had to do with money owed between the two from their betting activities, which had nothing to do with their employment.”

When fire and emergency personnel arrived on South 7th Street near Tully Road in San Jose, they found a man suffering from gunshot injuries; he was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Jaimez, there were no warning signs that the suspect was planning to harm anyone. 

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“As far as we know, there (are) no red flags,” she said. “He has no criminal history.”

VTA general manager Carolyn Gonot remembered Teotico as “a kind, hard-working driver who was well known amongst his colleagues.” She added that he was the father of two teenage children.

In a separate article published by KTVU on Saturday, the news station referenced a 2021 incident in which a disgruntled employee at the nearby Guadalupe Light Rail Yard on West Younger Avenue shot and killed nine of his coworkers before he then killed himself. 

“We were rebuilding after the tragic incident of three years ago, and so for many people, this is reliving one of the worst experiences they’ve ever had in their life,” County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, chair of the VTA board of directors, said Monday. “That’s why the mental health services, that’s why us wrapping our arms around each other is so important.”