Police say a dispute aboard the bus ended in gunfire before the suspected shooter fled the Mar Vista scene on a bicycle.
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles police arrested a 55-year-old man Friday in connection with the fatal shooting of a Culver CityBus driver during a confrontation with a passenger in the Mar Vista neighborhood, authorities said.
The suspect, identified by police as Jose Zayas, was taken into custody shortly after 2 p.m. Friday in the 3600 block of Motor Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. ABC7 reported that Zayas was booked on suspicion of murder and that bail was set at $3 million. The allegations have not been proven in court.
The shooting happened about 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, near Centinela and Mitchell avenues. Responding officers found the bus driver unresponsive in the driver’s seat, police said. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities described the driver as a man in his 40s but had not publicly released his name.
Two witnesses aboard the bus told investigators that the passenger appeared intoxicated and began arguing with the driver over a missed stop, according to ABC7. LAPD Capt. Eric Eppolito said the passenger then pulled out a gun and shot the driver. Investigators were continuing to determine the full sequence of events and had not announced a broader motive.
Police said the gunman got off the bus after the shooting and fled on a bicycle. Authorities initially described the person they were seeking as a man wearing a white shirt. Investigators reviewed video from the bus and interviewed witnesses as homicide detectives worked to identify and locate a suspect.
Two other passengers who were aboard the bus were not injured, according to reports citing police. Video from the scene showed an apparent bullet hole in one of the bus windows as officers closed off the area and gathered evidence. Police have not publicly released the bus surveillance footage or detailed everything investigators believe happened immediately before the gunfire.
The killing led Culver City officials to suspend Culver CityBus service from Friday through Sunday. Regularly scheduled service was expected to resume Monday, Oct. 5. City officials said crisis support would be provided to employees affected by the driver’s death.
Culver City Mayor Freddy Puza said the city had lost a deeply valued employee whose work served the community. Officials said the death was especially painful for the Culver CityBus team and that the weekend shutdown was intended to give employees time to grieve.
The shooting occurred within Los Angeles even though the bus was operated by Culver City, leaving the homicide investigation with the Los Angeles Police Department. Detectives continued investigating Friday night as authorities prepared to release additional information about the suspect and the case.
Zayas remained accused of murder as the investigation continued. The driver’s identity had not been publicly released, and authorities had not announced additional charges or disclosed further details about what investigators believe led to the confrontation.
Author note: Last updated October 2, 2026.