Los Angeles, CA – A chaotic scene unfolded in the heart of LA last Wednesday around 12:24 a.m. as a Los Angeles Metro city bus was hijacked for over an hour and a passenger fatally shot during the hijacking. The incident triggered a police chase that lasted through the streets of LA for over an hour.
According to authorities, the incident began when, 51-year-old Lamont Campbell boarded the bus. The suspect took control of the bus in South Los Angeles, which at one point, was seen coming to a stop, letting several passengers off the bus.
Law enforcement agencies immediately responded to the situation after the panic button on the bus was engaged, launching a massive chase for the suspect, and the digital sign on the front of the bus to display “Emergency 911 Call the Police.”
The bus was located traveling in LA, with police vehicles pursuing the suspect through crowded city streets, and several attempts to stop the bus proving unsuccessful.
The bus driver was ordered by the gunman to continue driving as police followed in pursuit.
As the chase progressed, the suspect at some point fired multiple shots at passenger, Anthony Rivera, 48, who had served in the California National Guard. He was commuting home from his shift as a parking attendant at the Dodger Stadium.
Police told the victim’s mother Theresa Flores, that her son had attempted to deescalate the situation, telling the gunman he could have his possessions: “Whatever you want, I have it here. And the man just turned around and shot him.”
Flores told NBC: “I just want justice for my boy. If he had his last dollar he would give it to you.”
Rivera was relying on the LA Metro Bus to get to and from work, not wanting to depend on anyone for rides until he could afford his own vehicle.
The chase that took Rivera’s life ended when the bus was forced to a stop near Alameda and 6th streets after running over tire puncturing spikes, laid near the city’s “skid row.”
SWAT converged on the bus shooting beanbags and stun grenades at the suspect. They found one passenger safely barricaded in the back of the bus, the bus driver shaken but unharmed, and Rivera bleeding from several gunshot wounds.
Rivera was taken to the hospital where he later passed.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement on the incident:
“My thoughts are with the loved ones of the individual who was tragically killed early this morning. Every Angeleno has the right to go about their lives safely — especially on our public transportation systems and I will be urgently working with the members of the Metro Board as well as our Chair and Metro CEO to enhance the safety strategies that we implemented earlier this year.”
Friend to the victim, Brian Kitchen said on Rivera: “I knew Anthony for over three years. He is a standup guy. He was my assistant manager here at the house, he was really good. He would help me set up the tents, help me sell stuff, whatever I needed help with, he would help.”
Another friend of Rivera, Michael Johnson said he thought his friend may have stood up to the gunman: “I wouldn’t be surprised if Anthony stood up to the person who had the weapon on the bus, because that’s the type of person he was.”
Is The Los Angeles Metro Safe?
Violence on the Metro bus system has increased between 2019 and 2023 “by a factor of 4” and assault on bus drivers increased by 50%.
Citing a surge in assaults on bus drivers, the agency approved $5 million in April to retrofit its fleet with barriers that would separate drivers from passengers. The safety barrier was key in keeping the bus driver safe during the hijacking along with the panic button. If it hadn’t been installed, the incident may have had a different ending with more victims.
The plan is to install barriers on every bus by the end of this year, starting with the bus lines that are the most susceptible to attacks in a bid to make the Los Angeles Metro a safer experience for passengers.
During a news conference, LA County Supervisor and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board Chair Janice Hahn said:
“I am grateful to our Metro bus driver who showed incredible composure in activating a silent alarm to alert law enforcement, and to the LAPD who responded to a difficult and dangerous situation. We need ways to prevent people from bringing weapons onto our Metro buses and trains, and the sooner we can find solutions to prevent tragedies like this, the better.”
The suspect, Lamont Campbell has been taken into custody as authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the shooting and the hijacking. He’s currently being held on a $2 million bond.
