Passenger killed in hijacking, pursuit of Metro bus in Los Angeles

One person was fatally shot when a Metro bus was hijacked with passengers on board and then pursued by police from South Los Angeles to downtown L.A. early Wednesday morning.

Officers began to receive radio calls for a potential assault with a deadly weapon on a bus near South Figueroa Street and Manchester Avenue in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood of South L.A. around 12:45 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Donald Graham said during a news conference.

Authorities learned that a person on the bus had pulled out a gun, prompting the bus driver to activate a panic button that displays a “CALL 911” outside the bus.

Officers found the bus stopped near West 117th Street and South Figueroa Street, but it began to move when officers got close, prompting a pursuit. Police said the suspect was holding the driver at gunpoint.

“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,” Graham said about the driver after the incident.

Officers deployed spike strips, which flattened the bus’ tires. The pursuit ended after roughly an hour at East 6th Street and South Alameda Street in downtown L.A.

Once the bus came to a stop, SWAT officers deployed a flash-bang device which allowed the driver to escape by climbing through a window.

Police said SWAT officers also rescued a passenger who was not seriously hurt.

Another passenger was found on the bus suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The unidentified victim was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead, Graham said.

Investigators believe the hijacker shot the victim before the pursuit got underway.

The suspect was taken into custody but the motive for the shooting remains unknown.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who is also Chair of the LA Metro Board of Directors, described the incident as a “nightmare” and praised the actions of the bus driver while calling for more to be done to protect the Metro system.

“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,” Hahn said.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass echoed those sentiments. “What happened this morning was completely unacceptable and has no place in Los Angeles,” Bass said.

Bass also said she would be working with members of the Metro Board to enhance the safety strategies that were implemented earlier this year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.