Los Angeles, Ca
Back-to-back scares rattle Los Angeles Metro buses in a span of hours
In a span of just six and half hours, two Los Angeles Metro buses were the focus of dangerous and scary situations Monday.
The first incident happened at around 3:15 a.m. when a Metro bus full of passengers near West Olympic and Flower Street downtown was overrun by people gathered for a street takeover involving an estimated 50 vehicles.
According to the bus operator, the mob of individuals shot fireworks at the bus and left it covered in graffiti.
There were also reports that the same group “tagged” a nearby building and attempted to break into a Starbucks on 9th and Flower before eventually being dispersed by officers with the Los Angeles Police department.
It is unclear if any arrests were made. There were also no reports of injuries.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable said that law enforcement needs to step up where the continued problem of street takeovers are concerned.
“You’re tasked with protecting citizens, it’s your job,” he told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. “You got to crack down, got to stop it. We’ve called repeatedly for the creation of a permanent joint taskforce – LAPD, LASD and state officials – to come in. In other words, to monitor, ID, impound and arrest.
Not long after that incident, at 9:45 a.m., deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department surrounded a Metro bus at Los Feliz and San Fernando roads in Glendale on reports of an armed passenger.
Authorities said that all the passengers on the bus had exited when the bus operator, who was wrapping up his shift, noticed a passenger slumped over, reportedly sleeping, in his seat with a gun.
Responding SWAT teams were able to watch the man by viewing Metro’s real-time surveillance cameras inside the bus while they used a bullhorn to get the suspect to wake up.
The suspect was eventually taken into custody at 11:45 a.m. without incident and a firearm was recovered at the scene.
“He woke up,” Deputy Lucas Darland said. “It was not a violent situation or confrontation at all.”
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been plagued by recent violence, including several incidents of people killed on buses or trains.
In May, Metro bus operators staged a “sick out” impacting several bus lines to draw attention to what they were calling a safety crisis.
Late in June, L.A. Metro board members voted to move forward with a five-year transition to establish a “Transit Community Public Safety Department.”
Currently, Metro, who used to have its own version of a transit police force between 1978 and 1997, contracts with LAPD, LASD and Long Beach PD for security, though officials at the transportation authority have been critical of the law enforcement personnel hired to provide safety resources to riders.
Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
-
A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
Los Angeles, Ca
Boyle Heights warehouse cleanup begins as crews face 85 million pounds of spoiled food
Cleanup efforts are underway Thursday at the Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse that burned for eight days after firefighters officially declared the massive blaze knocked down Wednesday evening. Los Angeles Fire Department crews remain at the Lineage warehouse near Union Pacific Avenue and South La Puente Street as they transition into the overhaul phase, searching for […]
A hospital needs help identifying a male patient who was found injured and unconscious in downtown Los Angeles.
The man is believed to be in his 30s, according to the Los Angeles General Medical Center.
He was found injured on the ground on Omar Street and has been hospitalized since June 22.
He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 176 pounds. He has brown eyes, dark brown hair and tattoos across his upper body.
He did not have any personal belongings to help staff identify him or contact loved ones. Workers did not disclose the nature of his injuries.
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call clinical social worker Cesar Robles at 323-409-6885.
The public can also call the L.A. General Medical Center’s Department of Social Work at 323-409-5253 or, after hours from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., call 323-409-6883. On weekends, call 323-409-5254.
-
Vermont8 seconds ago
VT Lottery Gimme 5, Pick 3 results for June 25, 2026
-
Virginia7 minutes agoVirginia man uses art to heal after years in prison, mental health battle
-
Washington10 minutes agoAJ Dybantsa arrives in Washington, ready to work on turning Wizards around
-
Wisconsin15 minutes agoWhat’s the Wisconsin wolf population? DNR issues latest estimate.
-
West Virginia22 minutes agoRegister now: West Virginia’s largest yard sale grows with more Webster County sellers for 2026
-
Wyoming25 minutes agoDan Speas Fish Hatchery temporarily closed to visitors as construction begins on new cool-/warm-water expansion
-
Crypto30 minutes agoCrypto Insiders Say Daily Senate Meetings Keep CLARITY Act Alive | PYMNTS.com
-
Finance37 minutes agoHow digital payments are reshaping a fast-growing digital banking market
