A tragic incident unfolded in Los Angeles early Wednesday when a gunman hijacked a city bus, resulting in the death of a passenger. The Los Angeles Police Department reported that the armed man boarded the Metro bus in South Los Angeles around 1 a.m., initiating what was described as a kidnapping situation with the driver and two passengers on board.
As officers approached the bus, it began to slowly move away with the suspect holding the driver at gunpoint. Despite the suspect never taking control of the wheel, a police chase ensued through downtown Los Angeles lasting over an hour. Police eventually deployed spike strips, causing the bus to come to a stop after traveling more than 7 miles. The suspect surrendered at a downtown intersection, bringing the harrowing ordeal to an end.
During the incident, a man was found inside the bus with gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The second passenger on board was unharmed, while the bus driver managed to escape through a window, as seen in news footage.
Metro confirmed that the bus driver was physically unharmed and receiving necessary support following the traumatic event. Deputy Chief Donald Graham commended the driver for his composed handling of the situation, noting his efforts to operate the bus safely despite the circumstances and the prolonged police pursuit.
This tragic event adds to a string of violent occurrences on the Los Angeles transit system, prompting calls for increased security measures on bus and train routes by Mayor Karen Bass back in May.
