Culver City is suspending bus service for the entire weekend after a passenger fatally shot a 42-year-old driver during a disturbing incident aboard a bus in Mar Vista, California.
Culver City officials announced Friday that all Culver CityBus routes would remain out of service through the weekend as the community mourns the driver, who was shot at approximately 5:15 p.m. Thursday.
The driver’s name has not been released out of consideration for his family. Paramedics treated him at the scene before rushing him to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
“We have lost a deeply valued member of our City family to a senseless act of violence,” Mayor Freddy Puza wrote in an Instagram post. “We are grieving the loss of someone who dedicated their time and talents to serving Culver City and who made a meaningful difference through that service every day.”
Police arrested the suspected shooter Friday. Authorities described him as a male passenger in his 40s.
The passenger appeared to be intoxicated and became involved in a dispute with the driver over a missed exit or an incorrect turn, LAPD Capt. Eric Eppolito told reporters at the scene Thursday. After the shooting, the suspect escaped, apparently traveling either on foot or by bicycle.
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“Apparently he was in a verbal dispute with the Culver City bus driver over missing an exit or going in the wrong direction. That kind of escalated to the point where our suspect pulled out a handgun, some type of handgun in a bag, which led to a couple of shots fired,” Eppolito said.
Two additional passengers were on the bus when the shots were fired. Neither passenger was hurt.
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The investigation has been assigned to homicide detectives. Police have not released further information about the suspect or the circumstances of his arrest, but LAPD confirmed he is in custody.
Culver City officials said the weekend service suspension was intended to “honor this loss and give our team time to grieve.”
The city is also making crisis-support resources available to employees affected by the killing.
The decision prompted an immediate wave of support online. Riders and former transit employees offered condolences to the driver’s colleagues while commending the city for pausing service.
“I have profound respect for you honoring the operator as well as supporting your employees in this manner,” a former bus operator from another company wrote.
“As someone who grew up here taking the bus all the time: Culver City bus is literally the best and this horrendous crime is so saddening,” another user commented.
Culver City ended its announcement by asking riders to keep the transit workforce in mind when service eventually resumes.
“When services do resume, please be kind to our operators and transit team as they navigate this unimaginable tragedy.”
