Man Who Killed 6 Kids in Crash Now Accused of Assaulting Ex and Her 4-Year-Old as the Child Tried to Help

By Samira Asma-Sadeque Published on July 31, 2026

A Tennessee man convicted of killing six schoolchildren a decade ago has been accused of strangling a woman and assaulting her 4-year-old.

Johnthony Walker, 34, was arrested on several charges including burglary and assault following the alleged attack on July 23, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE.

Walker was previously convicted of criminally negligent homicide for the 2016 fatal crash that killed six schoolchildren, all under the age of 10, in Chattanooga, Tenn., according to the Nashville District Attorney’s Office. He was then convicted in 2020 of statutory rape.

She alleged to police that she had recently broken up with Walker and thought he did not know where she lived. When she opened the door on the day of the incident, Walker allegedly forced his way in and began punching, kicking and trying to strangle her, WDEF and FOX 17 reported, citing the affidavits.

When her 4-year-old child tried to get help, Walker allegedly tripped the child, causing her to cry, investigators said, according to FOX 17 and WKRN.

He then took the woman’s phone and left, police allege in the affidavits.

The woman was treated for strangulation and a broken arm, WKRN reported.

This case marks the third time Walker has been involved in an alleged crime with juveniles.

Following his conviction for the 2016 bus crash, he pleaded guilty to aggravated statutory rape in 2020 for the rape of a 14-year-old girl, according to the DA’s office. Police previously said he was living with the victim’s family when he assaulted her.

Walker is now charged with aggravated assault – strangulation, assault of a child under the age of 8, sex offender residence/victim violation, interfering with a 911 call and aggravated burglary, online court records show.

Plea information was not available in the online docket. PEOPLE has reached out to his attorney listed in court records.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.