Gunman Hijacks Public Bus, Shoots One Dead

(Scypre.com) – Early Wednesday morning, a routine commute turned deadly when a Los Angeles Metro bus was hijacked, resulting in a police pursuit from South Los Angeles to downtown L.A. The incident left one passenger fatally shot, another unharmed, and the suspect arrested.

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to reports of a potential assault with a deadly weapon on a bus near South Figueroa Street and Manchester Avenue around 12:45 a.m.

LAPD Deputy Chief Donald Graham stated during a news conference that the driver, under duress, activated the bus’s panic button, which triggered a “CALL 911” sign outside the bus. Officers located the bus near West 117th Street and South Figueroa, but as they approached, the bus began to move again, initiating a dangerous police pursuit.

Police say the suspect held the driver at gunpoint during the chase. “Clearly he was under duress and under the threat of violence … for him to be able to keep his composure is a reflection on the bus operators in the system,” said Graham, praising the driver’s actions.

The pursuit, which lasted approximately an hour, ended in downtown L.A. at East 6th Street and South Alameda. Police used spike strips to flatten the bus’s tires, forcing it to stop. Once the bus halted, SWAT officers deployed a flash-bang device, allowing the driver to escape by climbing out of a window. SWAT officers also rescued a passenger, who was unharmed.

However, a second passenger was found inside the bus suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite efforts to save the victim, they were pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Investigators believe the hijacker shot the passenger before the pursuit commenced. The suspect was immediately taken into custody, but their motive remains unclear.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn expressed her condolences and praised the LAPD for their handling of the situation. “The hijacking of a Metro bus in Downtown Los Angeles late last night and the tragic murder of a passenger was a nightmare. I am grateful to our Metro bus driver who showed incredible composure in activating a silent alarm to alert law enforcement, and to the LAPD who responded to a difficult and dangerous situation,” said Hahn.

The incident has raised concerns over safety on Metro buses, with Hahn emphasizing the need for stricter measures to prevent individuals from bringing weapons onto public transportation. “We need ways to prevent people from bringing weapons onto our Metro buses and trains, and the sooner we can find solutions to prevent tragedies like this, the better,” she added.

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