The shooting occurred at about 7:30 a.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of North Vermont Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Responding officers located the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the face.
Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics transported the victim to a local hospital where she is listed in critical condition, according to police.
She was standing on the sidewalk when a man walked up to her, pulled out a handgun and fired, the LAPD said. They said she was on her break and had parked the bus at that location to meet with the suspect. No one else was on the bus at the time of the incident.
The suspect was later identified as 45-year-old Dorian Holt, the ex-boyfriend of the victim. Police said Holt was last seen fleeing the scene on foot, wearing a black sweatshirt, dark pants and a black baseball cap with a white LA Dodgers logo.
"Metro is deeply saddened by the act of domestic violence that seriously injured a Metro employee while she was on the sidewalk during a bus layover near Hollywood and Vermont streets," Metro said in a statement. "Metro appreciates the quick response by the Los Angeles Fire Department, which transported our employee to a nearby hospital."
"Although the victim was on duty as an MTA bus driver, her duties were not a factor in the incident," LAPD said in a press release.
Anyone with information about the shooting was urged to call the LAPD's Northeast station at 323-561-3211. Callers who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
City News Service contributed to this report.