A harrowing ordeal unfolded in Los Angeles early Wednesday when a gunman hijacked a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus, forcing the driver to lead police on an hour-long pursuit through the city. The incident ended in tragedy, with one passenger dead and the suspect in custody.
The hijacking began around 12:45 a.m. when the Los Angeles Police Department received reports of a disturbance on a bus near Manchester Avenue and Figueroa Street in southern Los Angeles. Initial radio calls indicated a possible assault involving a weapon. When police arrived on the scene, they discovered the bus had stopped, but when officers attempted to make contact, the situation escalated rapidly.
"The bus began to pull away as officers approached, leading to a pursuit that stretched for over an hour," said LAPD Deputy Chief Donald Graham during a press briefing. The chase, which spanned miles across downtown Los Angeles, saw the suspect hold the driver at gunpoint while police attempted to bring the situation under control. Authorities deployed multiple spike strips in an effort to disable the bus, which finally came to a halt at the intersection of Alameda Street and 6th Street shortly after 2 a.m.
The standoff that followed was tense, with a SWAT team called in to negotiate the release of the hostages. Inside the bus were four people: the driver, two passengers, and the armed suspect. "The SWAT team quickly moved in to rescue the bus driver and one passenger," Graham explained, adding that both individuals escaped unharmed, though visibly shaken by the traumatic experience.
However, as the police cleared the bus, they discovered a fourth individual suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. "This passenger had been shot during the hijacking," Graham confirmed. The victim was immediately transported to a local hospital but tragically succumbed to their injuries. No other injuries were reported, and the two remaining passengers declined medical treatment.
The gunman, whose identity has not yet been released, surrendered to police without further incident and was taken into custody. At this stage, investigators are still trying to determine the suspect's motive for the attack. "We don't yet know why this happened," Graham said. "But we are committed to conducting a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of this."
Reports suggest that the incident may have started when the suspect boarded the bus and demanded the driver continue through the city, holding him at gunpoint. At some point during the ordeal, the suspect allegedly shot one of the passengers, though the timeline of events remains under investigation.
Authorities praised the bus driver for his calm response during the terrifying event. According to Graham, the driver was able to discreetly trigger a panic button inside the bus, alerting law enforcement to the unfolding situation. "The driver is in relatively good spirits, though a bit shaken up," Graham added.
In a statement, Metro spokesman Jose Ubaldo expressed relief that the driver had survived the ordeal without physical harm. "Metro is grateful for the LAPD's swift action regarding this morning's bus hijacking incident and is grateful the operator was unharmed. We are providing the operator with the support he needs," Ubaldo said.
The identities of the victim and the suspect have not yet been made public, and it is unclear if the suspect knew any of the passengers beforehand. Police are also reviewing security footage from the bus to gain further insight into the suspect's actions during the chase.
