Victim in alleged Metro bus hijacking identified, charges pending for the suspect

The passenger, who was shot and killed early Wednesday when a man allegedly hijacked a Metro bus in South Los Angeles, has been identified as 48-year-old Anthony Rivera of Los Angeles.

Police made the announcement Friday, just days after a man was booked on suspicion of murder in connection to the alleged hijacking. The Los Angeles Police Department said they plan to present their case against him early next week to the L.A. District Attorney's office.

What we know so far

Los Angeles police got a call of a bus flashing a "911 call police emergency" sign while traveling down South Figueroa Street and Manchester Avenue at 12:46 a.m.

Police say the man entered the bus armed with a gun and refused to leave, holding the driver hostage.

LAPD Officer Rosario Cervantes said officers attempted to communicate with the driver over the public announcement system, but the bus pulled away from the location. A slow pursuit followed.

Police used spike strips to try to slow down the bus and followed it to 6th Street and Alameda, where SWAT officers used flash bang devices. The man barricaded himself on the bus.

According to Cervantes, one of the passengers was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Details about what led to the shooting were not shared at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

The driver and other passengers were shaken, but uninjured. The gunshot victim, Rivera, died at the hospital.

Lamont Campbell, 51, was arrested and booked on suspicion of murder, police officials announced Wednesday. He’s being held in lieu of $2 million bail, according to inmate records. A court date has not yet been set.

Stephanie Wiggins, Metro CEO, said she’s angry and frustrated. 

“We have been working diligently to address safety and security improvements on our system to make things safer for our employees and our riders,” she said. 

John Ellis, general chairman of SMART-TD General Committee 875, the union representing bus and rail operators, said in a statement that this “grave incident” emphasizes the continuing safety concerns raised by their members. 

"It should be noted that Metro promised us that they would complete installation of the [protective driver] barriers by the end of the year,” he said in a statement. “In addition, recently, we strongly supported a Metro Board motion to entirely revamp Metro’s police protection to better safeguard our members. This process has begun.”

Praise for swift response

Metro issued a statement saying they are "grateful for the LAPD’s swift action regarding this morning’s bus hijacking incident and is grateful the operator was unharmed. Metro is providing the operator with the support he needs."

LA Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn said in a statement: "We still have unanswered questions about how this happened and I expect Metro to work closely with both law enforcement and prosecutors as they seek justice for the victim’s family. 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.”

Mayor Karen Bass also issued a statement saying that she’ll work “urgently” to enhance safety strategies she implemented earlier this year, adding that “every Angeleno has the right to go about their lives safely — especially on our public transportation systems.”