A passenger was fatally shot on a hijacked metro bus in Los Angeles early Wednesday, with the suspect holding the driver at gunpoint during a police chase. Around 12:45 a.m., officers responded to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon on the bus, according to KTLA-TV.
The bus driver triggered a panic button after the suspect brandished a gun, displaying a “CALL 911” message on the bus’ exterior. When police located the bus, the suspect forced the driver to flee, initiating a pursuit that ended after an hour when officers deployed spike strips to stop the bus.
SWAT officers used a flash-bang device, enabling the driver to escape through a window. A passenger, unharmed, was also rescued, but another victim, shot multiple times, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Police believe the hijacker shot the victim before the chase began.
Though the suspect was arrested, the motive remains unknown. L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn called the incident a “nightmare” and emphasized the need for better security measures on public transit to prevent weapons from being brought aboard.
