Man accused of hijacking Los Angeles bus charged with murder and kidnapping

Authorities have charged the individual accused of seizing control of a Los Angeles Metro bus, fatally shooting a rider, and engaging in a prolonged pursuit with law enforcement officers last week. The charges include murder and kidnapping.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon unveiled a total of 12 counts against the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Lamont Campbell.

The charges against the suspect include murder, carjacking, kidnapping during a carjacking, assault with a semiautomatic weapon, attempted murder, robbery, kidnapping, felony evasion, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the DA's office.

A Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus was allegedly hijacked with the driver being forced to drive at gunpoint before police were able to apprehend the suspect, Sept. 25, 2024.
KABC

Campbell faces a maximum sentence of 90 years in prison.

The incident began around 12:46 a.m. on September 25 when the Los Angeles Police Department received calls about a disturbance on a bus in the area of Manchester Street and Figueroa Street in south Los Angeles, Deputy Chief Donald Graham said in a briefing last week.

"The officers quickly learned from the passengers that there was an armed person on the Metro bus. They attempted to stop the bus but were unsuccessful, later finding out that the armed suspect had instructed the driver not to stop," Graham said.

Officers deployed multiple spike strips during the chase, flattening several tires on the bus and ultimately causing it to stop, according to LAPD.

A news camera records in front of a Los Angeles MTA bus depot near the site where overnight a bus was hijacked by an armed subject with passengers on board, Sept. 25, 2024, in Los Angeles.
Ryan Sun/AP

"SWAT personnel quickly saw that a victim was injured inside the bus, created a tactical plan, and entered without delay. The suspect was arrested without further incident," authorities said.

Law enforcement officers immediately initiated emergency medical treatment for the victim who had sustained gunshot injuries. The male victim was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.

Campbell is being detained at a local correctional facility with a bail amount set at $2 million.