LOS ANGELES—A passenger was fatally shot aboard a hijacked Metro bus early Wednesday, and the suspect was arrested after a slow pursuit through downtown Los Angeles, with the violence again raising concerns about safety aboard the transit system.
According to Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Donald Graham, officers initially went to the area of Manchester Boulevard and Figueroa Street around 12:45 a.m. in response to radio calls of a disturbance and possible assault with a deadly weapon on a bus. Police ultimately found the bus at 117th Street and Figueroa.
“At that point the bus was stopped, and officers from the Southeast Area set up [near] the bus and attempted to make contact with them using their PA systems,” Graham said. “The bus responded by slow-rolling away from the police officers and a pursuit began at that point.
“The pursuit lasted about a hour as officers ... stayed behind the bus through a very circuitous route through South Los Angeles into the downtown area,” he said. “Southeast officers deployed multiple spike strips in an attempt to stop the bus, and the spike strips were finally effective on the bus ... at Alameda just south of Sixth [Street].”
Graham said SWAT officers had already joined the pursuit, “understanding there was a potential hostage situation that was occurring on the bus.”
Once the bus stopped, officers disabled it to prevent it from moving again, and SWAT officers used “distraction” techniques and boarded the bus, taking the suspect into custody. A male passenger aboard the bus was found with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital, where he died, Graham said.
The bus driver and another passenger who had been hiding in the back of the bus were also rescued.
LAPD Assistant Chief Blake Chow identified the suspect as Lamont Campbell, 51. He was booked on suspicion of murder, and was being held in lieu of $2 million bail, according to jail records.
The name of the man who died was not immediately released.
It was unclear if the shooting occurred prior to the bus being hijacked or during the ensuing pursuit. The driver did manage to trigger a silent alarm, alerting police to the emergency situation.
“Metro is grateful for the LAPD’s swift action regarding this morning’s bus hijacking incident and is grateful the operator was unharmed. Metro is providing the operator with the support he needs,” Metro spokesman Jose Ubaldo said in a statement to City News Service. “This is still an active investigation being led by the LAPD.”
The deadly shooting was the latest high-profile violence to plague to the Metro transit system, which has been working to bolster security and increase passenger safety.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who chairs the Metro Board of Directors, issued a statement Wednesday morning calling the shooting and hijacking “a nightmare.”
At an afternoon news conference, Hahn praised the bus driver, calling his actions “heroic.” She noted that the bus was luckily equipped with a barrier that separated and protected the driver from the suspect. Metro previously ordered hundreds of such barriers to bolster protection of drivers in the wake of a series of attacks. The transit agency is expected to have barriers installed on all of its buses by the end of the year.
Hahn repeated her previous calls for a system to prevent people from carrying weapons onto buses and trains. She noted that three weapons-detection systems are being tested at Union Station, and she hopes to expand their use throughout the transit system.
“We also need to see more law enforcement on our buses and trains. They can’t be on every bus or train, but if they’re more visible that makes a difference and can be a deterrent and make riders feel safe,” Hahn said.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who also sits on the Metro board, also decried the violence.
“My condolences to the loved ones of the person who was tragically killed this morning,” Bass said during the afternoon news conference. “I want to say that what happened this morning will not be tolerated in Los Angeles, and the individual who was arrested must be held fully accountable.
“Every Angeleno has the right to go about their life safety, especially on public transportation.”
Bass said she also supports the implementation of a weapons-detection system, and more law enforcement on the Metro system.
