World
Next Story
Newszop

Man hijacks bus in Los Angeles, 1 passenger killed

Send Push
A deadly incident unfolded early Wednesday morning in downtown Los Angeles when a man boarded a Metro bus , argued with the driver, and then held him at gunpoint, ordering him to drive. The suspect shot one of the passengers at the beginning of the incident, and that person later died from their wounds.

The incident was first reported to the Los Angeles Police Department around 12:45 am through radio calls about a disturbance on a bus near Manchester Street and Figueroa Street in southern Los Angeles. Deputy chief Donald Graham provided details in a briefing on Wednesday morning. Initial reports suggested a potential assault with a weapon, and officers located the bus stopped at 117th Street and Figueroa Street, ABC News reported.

The driver pushed a panic button inside the bus, alerting police to his predicament, according to NBC News.



As the LAPD attempted to make contact with the occupants, the bus began to pull away from the officers. This led to an hourlong pursuit that ended in the downtown area. The bus finally came to a stop at Alameda Street and 6th Street around 2:10 a.m. after police successfully deployed multiple spike strips, puncturing a tire on the right side of the vehicle.

According to police, there were four people on the bus: two passengers, the driver and the suspect, according to media reports.

A SWAT team was called in to assist with the hostage situation . They managed to board the bus and rescue the driver and one passenger. The suspect surrendered immediately and was taken into custody. However, while clearing the bus, police discovered the second passenger had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

The injured passenger was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to their injuries. The driver and the other passenger did not require medical treatment. Authorities stated that the investigation is currently open and ongoing.



“Metro is grateful for the LAPD's swift action regarding this morning's bus hijacking incident and is grateful the operator was unharmed. Metro is providing the operator with the support he needs,” Metro spokesman Jose Ubaldo said in a statement to City News Service.

“This is still an active investigation being led by the LAPD.”
Loving Newspoint? Download the app now