A 55-year-old man was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a Culver CityBus driver during a verbal dispute over a missed stop in Mar Vista, according to the Los Angeles Police Department and local officials. The Thursday evening attack left the driver, a man in his 40s whose identity has not been released, dead after he was transported to a hospital.
Arrest of Suspect Jose Zayas on Motor Avenue
Los Angeles Police Department investigators identified 55-year-old Jose Zayas as the suspect in the fatal shooting, nbclosangeles.com reported. Officers took Zayas into custody just after 2 p.m. Friday in the 3600 block of Motor Avenue. Police booked him for murder, and his bail was set at $3 million. The case is scheduled for presentation to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration next week.
The arrest followed a round-the-clock search by the LAPD, which reviewed video footage and witness statements after the gunman fled the scene. Police initially described the suspect as a white man with a bicycle who left either on foot or on a bike after the shooting. A weapon was not recovered at the scene, according to the LAPD.
Verbal Dispute Over a Missed Stop on the Bus
The shooting occurred around 5:15 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of South Centinela and Mitchell avenues, nbclosangeles.com reported. According to police, an intoxicated passenger engaged in a verbal dispute with the driver over a missed stop before pulling a gun from a bag and opening fire. Officers arriving at the scene found the driver unresponsive in the driver’s seat.
Two other passengers on the bus at the time of the shooting were uninjured, LAPD Capt. Eric Eppolito told nbclosangeles.com. “I can ensure the public that we are on it, we are out here and we will stay on it until we find the individual responsible,” Eppolito said Thursday.
Culver City Officials Confirm Driver’s Death and Service Suspensions
Culver City Vice Mayor Bubba Fish confirmed in an email to the Los Angeles Times that the victim worked as a driver for Culver CityBus. Culver City Mayor Freddy Puza wrote in an email Thursday evening that the city lost a beloved member of its team to a senseless act of violence.
“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,” Puza wrote in a statement reported by nbclosangeles.com. Puza added that Culver CityBus service would be suspended throughout the weekend.
District Attorney Review Scheduled for Next Week
The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing as detectives from the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division process the evidence and case details. Prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office are expected to review the case for formal criminal filings next week.
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