By Jerald Jimenez
Sep 25, 2024, 10:31 AM EDT
In a dramatic incident that occurred in the early hours of Monday morning, a Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus was hijacked, forcing the driver to drive under threat of a firearm.
The incident, which began around 1:00 a.m. at the intersection of Figueroa Street and Manchester in South Los Angeles, involved three hostages: the bus driver and two passengers.
According to KABC, the suspect took control of the bus and began a dangerous escape. During the chase, authorities deployed a spike strip that managed to puncture the vehicle’s right tire, slowing its progress.
The bus finally stopped at 2:10 a.m. at the intersection of 6th and Wholesale streets, approximately 8 miles from the starting point of the incident. At this location, officers had set up a roadblock and a SWAT team moved in to clear the bus and arrest the suspect.
The victim, whose identity has not been released, was taken to a local hospital in critical condition, where he later died from his injuries. Two other patients refused treatment, according to authorities.
The suspect turned himself in to authorities and was taken into custody. But as police were clearing the bus, they found a fourth person with multiple gunshot wounds, but his current condition is unknown.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing, and authorities are working to clarify the motives behind the kidnapping and ensure that all those responsible face justice.
With information from ABC News