LOS ANGELES, CA – A terrifying and tragic event transpired early Wednesday morning in downtown Los Angeles when a man hijacked a Metro bus, resulting in the death of one passenger. The incident began when the suspect boarded the bus, engaged in an argument with the driver, and proceeded to hold him at gunpoint to drive the vehicle.

Authorities were alerted to the situation around 12:45 am when reports of a disturbance on a bus near Manchester Street and Figueroa Street in southern Los Angeles were received. Deputy Chief Donald Graham provided details during a briefing, indicating that the suspect fatally shot a passenger at the start of the incident. The bus was eventually located by officers at 117th Street and Figueroa Street after the driver activated a panic button inside the bus to alert the police.

The LAPD attempted to establish communication with the individuals on the bus, but the vehicle started to move away from officers, sparking an hour-long pursuit that concluded in the downtown area. The pursuit only ended when police successfully deployed spike strips to puncture a tire on the bus, halting it at Alameda Street and 6th Street.

Amidst the hostage situation, a SWAT team intervened and successfully rescued the driver and one of the passengers. The suspect surrendered without resistance and was taken into custody. Tragically, a second passenger discovered on the bus had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and, despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, succumbed to their injuries. The driver and the other passenger did not require medical attention.

In response to the incident, Metro spokesman Jose Ubaldo expressed gratitude for the LAPD’s prompt response and ensured that the operator of the bus would receive the necessary support. The LAPD has stated that the investigation is currently ongoing as they work to uncover more details about the terrifying bus hijacking incident.