Deadly Bus Hijacking Leads to Police Chase Through Downtown Los Angeles
Early on Wednesday, a Los Angeles city bus was hijacked in an incident that resulted in the death of one passenger. At approximately 12:45 a.m., police were alerted to a potential assault involving a weapon on the bus, prompting the driver to activate a “CALL 911” signal. After the bus was located at 117th Street and South Figueroa Street, police attempted to intervene but the hijacker, armed and threatening the driver, forced the bus to flee.
During the chaos, a passenger was shot before the bus began its northward journey, which lasted about an hour and involved LAPD vehicles in pursuit. Police eventually stopped the bus using spike strips, and a flash-bang grenade was deployed to safely enter the vehicle. The hijacker was apprehended, while the bus driver managed to escape through a window unharmed. Unfortunately, one passenger who had been shot was pronounced dead at a hospital.
LAPD Deputy Chief Donald Graham commended the driver’s composure amidst the violent situation. The suspect is now in custody, and the incident has raised further concerns over safety on public transportation.
A Los Angeles city bus was hijacked early Wednesday in an incident that left one passenger dead.
At about 12:45 a.m., Los Angeles police received reports of a potential assault on a bus that involved a weapon, Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Donald Graham said, according to KTLA.
According to reports received by police, someone on the bus had a gun, which led the bus driver to hit a button that displayed the message “CALL 911” on the outside of the bus.
Police responded and found the bus stopped at 117th Street and South Figueroa Street.
Insane footage of a hijacked LA Metro bus this morning in downtown LA.
Via Da’Ron/TikTok https://t.co/CgperBpQEs pic.twitter.com/nbuXL4VT5w
— Kurtis ⚾ (@laaabaseball) September 25, 2024
The bus pulled away when police tried to make contact, according to KABC-TV.
Some passengers left the bus soon after the hijacking began, police said, according to Fox News.
Police said that a passenger aboard the bus was shot prior to the driver being held at gunpoint and ordered to drive northbound.
The bus was followed by LAPD vehicles for about an hour.
After the pursuit, which ended about six miles from where it began, police were able to stop the bus by deploying spike strips that flattened the tires of the vehicle, according to KTLA.
BREAKING: New video that just came across our #LiveDesk feeds shows a passenger escaping from this Metro bus that was hijacked overnight in Los Angeles.
1 passenger was shot and killed.
The suspect is now in custody. https://t.co/1P4CKscx08 pic.twitter.com/2DBRCImqAh
— Steve McCarron KOMO (@SteveTVNews) September 25, 2024
At that point, a flash-bang grenade was used. The driver of the bus climbed out of a window and escaped without injury.
When police entered the bus, they found the suspect, one passenger who was not seriously injured and another passenger who had been shot multiple times.
The shooting victim was taken to a hospital where the victim was pronounced dead, Graham said.
The suspect was taken into custody.
Graham praised the actions of the driver.
“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.
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