A suspect took an MTA bus hostage, prompting police to embark on a terrifying hour-long chase through the streets of Los Angeles in wild scenes overnight.
The gunman, who has not been identified, shot a passenger as the incident unfolded around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday.
After leading police for more than six miles through the city, the suspect was taken into custody by a SWAT team shortly after 2 a.m.
Reports indicate that a victim on the bus may have been driving the vehicle at the direction of the hijacker at gunpoint, and one witness said the frantic chase through the California city “looked like the movie Speed.”
Footage circulating online of the end of the chase showed the MTA bus parked on the side of the road as an armored police vehicle pulled up in front of it.
On Wednesday night in Los Angeles, an MTA bus was hijacked by a gunman in wild scenes in which one victim drove the vehicle away from police at gunpoint.
A witness described the chase in Los Angeles as similar to the movie ‘Speed’
Police pursued the bus for more than six miles before a standoff ensued, which ended when a SWAT team arrested the hijacker.
During the chase, the suspect drove the bus in the wrong direction on a one-way street and police reportedly used spike strips to slash the tires.
When the suspect stopped the bus in front of the armored vehicle, a confrontation with police ensued via loudspeaker.
The gunman appeared to be holding at least one person hostage during the chase and subsequent standoff.
Police said they initially believed more than one person had hijacked the bus as the driver appeared to be under the direction of the hijacker at gunpoint.
It is unclear whether the victim driving the bus was the same one who was shot and taken hostage, or whether there were other passengers on board during the chase.
The suspect was arrested at the scene, while the shooting victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition. According to the Citizen Crime Reporting app, the victim was a 48-year-old man who was shot twice.
Authorities have not released the name of the suspect or a motive for the rampage, but said it is believed to be connected to an earlier shooting.
