Suspect in deadly hijacking of LA Metro bus identified, booked for murder, police say

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The suspect in a deadly hijacking of a Los Angeles Metro bus 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.

Officers deployed several spike strips during the chase, which punctured the right tire of the bus.

The bus eventually came to a stop at 6th and Alameda streets in downtown L.A. and the suspect surrendered.

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. The driver climbed out of the bus from the driver's side window.

A man was found inside the bus with multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name has not been released, and he was only identified as a 48-year-old Los Angeles resident.

The second passenger was not injured.

Campbell was being held on $2 million bail.

In a statement, Metro said the bus driver is OK and that the transportation agency is providing him with the support he needs.

The LAPD praised the bus driver for his actions.

"They are civil service heroes," said Graham. "They're on those buses; they're dealing with the public."

"This operator continued to operate the bus in as safe a manner as he could under the circumstances, with the police trailing him for an hour," he added. "I think the world of the operator and this individual and bus operators in general for the job that they have to do."

Los Angeles leaders speak out

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 safely, especially on public transportation.''

Bass said she also supports the implementation of a weapons-detection system, and more law enforcement on the Metro system.