A suspect hijacked a Metro Line 81 bus at gunpoint early Wednesday, leading to a dramatic police chase across Los Angeles that ended with one person dead and the suspect in custody.
The incident began shortly before 1am near Figueroa Street and Manchester Avenue in South Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The armed suspect had boarded the bus, and thereafter held the driver and two passengers hostage, which authorities described as a kidnapping situation.
Police located the bus stopped near 117th and Figueroa streets, but as officers approached, the vehicle began to slowly move away. For the next hour, the bus driver was forced to continue driving at gunpoint while officers pursued the vehicle. It is believed the suspect never attempted to drive the bus himself.
LAPD officers deployed several spike strips along the pursuit route, eventually puncturing the right tire of the bus. The bus finally came to a stop at 6th and Alameda streets in downtown Los Angeles, where the suspect surrendered without further incident. The bus driver managed to escape through the driver’s side window.
Inside the bus, officers discovered a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to the hospital but was later pronounced dead. Details surrounding the shooting were still unclear, and police were yet to determine what led to the fatal gunfire. The second passenger on board was unharmed.
In a statement, Metro confirmed the bus driver was physically unharmed and was receiving support. The LAPD commended the driver for his composure under extreme duress.
“This operator continued to operate the bus in as safe a manner as he could under the circumstances, with the police trailing him for an hour before the spike strips finally took effect,” said Deputy Chief Donald Graham of the LAPD’s Transit Services Division.
