A man has died in a hostage situation on a public transport bus in Los Angeles. The passenger was hit by multiple gunshots and died in hospital from his injuries, police announced Wednesday in the online service X. The suspected hostage-taker was arrested.
The armed man boarded the bus around 1 a.m. (local time) on Wednesday night, police said. There were only two passengers on board, apart from the driver. The passenger who later died was reportedly injured when the hostage situation began. The second passenger and the driver were unharmed.
The police slashed the tires of the bus
The officers used metal teeth to puncture the vehicle’s tires. The bus eventually came to a stop at an intersection in the city center, police said. A special unit then stormed the bus, using stun grenades and other non-lethal weapons.
A video of the incident can be seen here:
Perpetrator threatened driver with weapon
According to the police, the driver silently raised the alarm. During the entire chase that followed, the driver was then threatened with a weapon by the hostage taker.
It is the second bus hijacking this year
In the California metropolis of Los Angeles, there have been several violent incidents on the local transit network in recent months. In March, a gunman took control of a bus and caused a traffic accident. In April, a woman was killed in a knife attack at a subway station.
Mayor Karen Bass then increased the security presence on public transportation. After Wednesday’s deadly hostage situation, she announced further improvements to security measures.
Los Angeles will host the Olympic Games in 2028. By then, Bass plans to expand the public transportation system in the metropolis known for its mega-traffic jams and has announced “car-free games.”
Source: Krone
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