A passenger has been killed after an armed man hijacked a city bus in Los Angeles (USA) around 10:00 (Spanish time) this Wednesday. The incident led to a major police pursuit through the center of the California capital until the security forces managed to arrest the suspect, as authorities have informed AP.
The armed man boarded the city bus with the driver and two passengers on board, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Upon learning of the situation, a dozen police vehicles followed. The driver continued driving despite the armed threat from the hijacker. A flashing sign on the front of the bus read: "Emergency. Call 911 Police.", because the driver pressed the emergency button.
The police deployed spike strips that punctured one of the vehicle's tires. After traveling more than 11 kilometers, the bus finally stopped at an intersection in the downtown area near the Arts District of the city, and the suspect surrendered, as officials have confirmed. In the footage aired by various television stations, a series of distraction grenade explosions around the stopped bus can be seen. Subsequently, the police stormed on board with shields, the bus driver exited through a window and ran to a safe place behind an armored vehicle until the officers detained him.
The interim police chief, Dominic Choi, stated that the distraction grenades were used to facilitate the SWAT team's hostage rescue operation. A man was found inside the bus with gunshot wounds, but details about what led to the shooting have not been disclosed. The victim was transported to a hospital, where he died minutes later, as reported by officials. The driver and the second passenger were treated by paramedics at the scene without serious injuries.
In a statement, the bus company owning the vehicle said that the driver was unharmed. Choi identified the suspect as a 51-year-old Los Angeles resident who could face a murder charge. The police chief mentioned that the investigation was still ongoing and did not reveal information about the possible reason that led the 50-year-old man to hijack the bus. On the other hand, the police praised the driver for remaining calm throughout the ordeal.
"This operator continued to drive the bus as safely as possible under the circumstances, with the police following him for an hour before the spike strips finally took effect," said Deputy Chief Donald Graham to reporters. Reggie Range, a Los Angeles resident, told various media outlets that he left his house to get a snack when he saw the bus crossing the intersection of 6th and Hill streets, followed by several police vehicles. Range decided to follow the bus on a scooter to capture different images. "It looked so calm, as if it were on a normal route," Range said about the driver, whom he could see through the window.
This murder is the latest in a series of attacks, including stabbings and shootings on buses and trains, as Los Angeles seeks to expand its transportation system ahead of hosting the 2028 Olympics. "I am angry and frustrated to be here today because... we have been diligently working to address improvements in safety and protection in our system to make things safer for our employees and passengers," said the CEO of the city's public transportation management company, Stephanie Higgins.
In May, Mayor Karen Bass called for increased security on transportation routes. On Wednesday, Bass stated that the public transportation company aims to install fully enclosed barriers to protect drivers on all buses by the end of 2024. The city council is also implementing a weapons detection pilot program to prevent passengers from carrying weapons on buses and trains, she said.
"Every Angeleno has the right to live their life safely, especially on our public transportation systems, and I will continue to work with the Board members, as well as with the president and CEO to enhance the security strategies we implemented earlier this year," the mayor said in a statement. In March, a man carrying a weapon hijacked a city bus in downtown Los Angeles, took the wheel, and caused the bus to collide with several vehicles and crash into a hotel.