Bus Hijacking Thwarted Using Stop Sticks

Bus Hijacking Thwarted by Stop Sticks

https://www.latimes.com/

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-09-25/metro-bus-dtla-hijacking

Bus Hijacking Thwarted by Stop Sticks: On a scary Wednesday morning, a Los Angeles Metro bus was hijacked by a madman that gained the attention of the SWAT.

The Bus Ride

            In Los Angeles, California, 51-year-old Lamont Campbell boarded a Metro bus and instantly got in an argument with the bus driver.  He then fatally shot a passenger as many others ran out in fear.  At this point Campbell was in full control and had hijacked the Metro bus.  The remaining people on the bus was Campbell, the driver, and another passenger.

A Call for Help

The bus driver remained calm in the tense situation and pressed the emergency button that alerted the Los Angeles Police Department for help.  There was a barrier protecting the driver from the madman, so he was able to safely drive until help came.  The police finally located the bus about ten to fifteen minutes after the call, but the bus had to keep driving.  The officers finally deployed Stop Sticks, which wore down the tires until the bus stopped.  Once stopped, a SWAT team was able to board the bus with the help of flash grenades.

Aftermath

When the officers stormed the bus, both the bus driver and innocent passenger were able to safely escape.  They also found the body of the passenger Campbell shot, who tragically died.  Paramedics treated both the driver and passenger, and they were able to leave the scene.  Lamont Campbell was taken into custody on suspicion of murder.  He is being held on $2 million bail.

What happened on the Los Angeles Metro bus was a grave tragedy that should never happen.  Boarding a bus should not put innocent lives and danger, and certainly nobody should lose their lives because of it.  As bad as it was, it could have been worse without the brave heroics of the bus driver and SWAT team.  The bus driver was able to remain calm and keep the other passengers safe, while the deployment of Stop Sticks gave the team a chance to stop the madman.

Link to article by: Richard Winton, Jireh Deng, and Hannah Fry: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-09-25/metro-bus-dtla-hijacking