The suspect in a deadly hijacking of a Los Angeles Metro bus overnight was identified and arrested on suspicion of murder, police said.
The incident started before 1 a.m. Wednesday at Figueroa Street and Manchester Avenue in South Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police said 51-year-old Lamont Campbell hijacked the Line 81 bus, which was traveling southbound and was carrying the driver and two passengers.
Investigators described the incident as a kidnapping situation and said the emergency panic button alerted police. After the driver pushed the silent alarm, the electronic display on the front of the bus read “Call 911,” prompting people to call 911.
“These radio calls consisted of a disturbance on a bus, unknown trouble on a bus, and potentially an assault with a deadly weapon that was occurring on the bus,” said Deputy Chief Donald Graham with the LAPD’s Transit Services Division.
Officers saw the bus stopped at 117th and Figueroa streets, but it started slowly rolling away as they approached. The bus driver continued traveling at gunpoint as authorities pursued the vehicle for the next hour. It does not appear the suspect was ever behind the wheel.