Bus Chase With Hijacker Ends in Fatal Shootout

The suspect was killed and three police officers wounded in Texas
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 19, 2020 5:30 PM CDT
Armed Hijacker Leads Police on Bus Chase
A DART bus is investigated after a gunman held the driver hostage and fired shots inside the bus while being chased by police on Sunday, April 19, 2020 in Garland, Texas.   (Ashley Landis/The Dallas Morning News)

A man opened fire on a Dallas-area public bus on Sunday, hijacking it with two people aboard and leading officers on a chase that ended in a shootout in which the man was killed and three officers were wounded, according to police officials, the AP reports. A man got on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit bus in Richardson, just north of Dallas, at around 11am and opened fire, shattering windows, said Gordon Shattles, a DART spokesman. The man took the driver hostage and fired at DART officers who tried to stop the vehicle while police from other agencies joined the pursuit eastward along the President George Bush Turnpike, said Garland police officer Pedro Barineau.

"During the pursuit shots were continually being fired from the actual gunman inside the bus toward the officers and the officers were returning fire," Barineau said. Police eventually used a spike strip to stop the vehicle along the freeway in the suburb of Rowlett, according to Barineau. The man continued firing as he exited the bus after it stopped, and officers returned fire, killing him, said Barineau, who didn't release the suspect's name. A DART public transportation officer and a Garland police officer were shot and wounded, but their injuries weren't considered life-threatening, he said. A Rowlett police officer also was injured when the window of his patrol vehicle was shot out. He said the officer is expected to recover.

(More car chase stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X