Suspect Hijacks Bus in Los Angeles, Triggering Police Pursuit and SWAT Response

One person was fatally shot when an bus was hijacked with passengers on board and then pursued by police from South Los Angeles to downtown early Wednesday morning.

Officers began to receive radio calls for a potential assault with a deadly weapon on a bus around 12:45 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Donald Graham said during a news conference.

Officers found the stopped the bus, but it began to move when officers got close, prompting a pursuit, KTLA reports.

Police said the suspect was holding the driver at gunpoint.

Officers deployed spikes to flatten the vehicle’s tires and end the pursuit.

Once the bus came to a stop, SWAT officers deployed a flash-bang device and the distraction allowed the driver to escape by climbing through a window.

Police said SWAT officers also rescued a passenger who was not seriously hurt.

The suspect was taken into custody.