The latest victim in a series of violent incidents on the transit system is a 48-year-old man, identified as Anthony Rivera, who was fatally shot during the hijacking of a Los Angeles Metro bus. The incident, which began near Figueroa Street and Manchester Avenue, ended downtown after a SWAT team stopped the bus and arrested the suspect. Rivera succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
The suspect, Lamont Campbell, is in custody on murder charges and will face the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The LAPD responded to a call from Metro’s security operations center about a man with a gun on the bus, leading to a pursuit that ended with the suspect’s arrest.
During the incident, passengers managed to exit the bus, but two remained onboard as the suspect held the driver at gunpoint. The bus was eventually stopped, and the suspect was apprehended after officers deployed non-lethal tactics. The bus driver and another passenger were rescued by SWAT officers.
Los Angeles officials, including Mayor Karen Bass and County Supervisor Janice Hahn, expressed concern over the incident and called for improved safety measures on the Metro system. They highlighted the need for weapon detection systems and increased law enforcement presence on buses and trains.
The fatal shooting is the latest in a series of violent incidents on Metro properties, prompting the agency to enhance security measures and install barriers to protect bus drivers. Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins emphasized the need for increased street patrols in crime hotspots and investment in mental health and addiction treatment to address underlying issues contributing to violence.
Overall, the incident underscores the broader trend of violence in the county and the challenges faced by public transportation systems in ensuring passenger safety. Please rewrite this sentence.
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