A person was killed in Los Angeles as a hijacker took over a Metro bus at gunpoint, leading SWAT and police officers on a wild chase through the city’s downtown, according to authorities.
The violence unfolded near South Figueroa Street and Manchester Avenue in the South Los Angeles neighborhood of Vermont Knolls overnight Wednesday.
Deputy Chief Donald Graham told reporters the Los Angeles Police Department received radio calls about the disturbance just before 1 a.m. But when authorities located the parked bus and moved to approach, it slowly started to roll away, kicking off what would eventually become and hour-long police pursuit through southern LA.
The vehicle eventually stopped at Alameda Street and 6th Street at approximately 2:10 a.m., after police deployed multiple spike strips, which punctured a tire on the right side of the bus. There were two passengers onboard with the driver and the suspect at the time, police said.
A SWAT team was immediately called in to assist in the hostage situation. They were able to rescue two people, the driver and a passenger, before the suspect surrendered.
When police began to clear the bus, they discovered another passenger inside, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Police have not identified the victim nor the shooter.
Graham praised the bus driver, who was not injured, for acting cool under pressure and activating the “Call 911” sign on the front of the bus.
“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,” he said. “So I think the world of the operator, and this individual and bus operators in general, for the job that they have to do.”
It does not appear the suspect was ever behind the wheel, police said.
An investigation into the matter is ongoing.