Metro Bus Driver Fatally Shot on West Hollywood Street in Unprecedented Murder

By Dennis Romero Mon., May 21 2012 at 11:22 AM

Categories: WTF

Chester Paul Sgroi

Updated at the bottom with a suspect arrested and ID'd. The victim was also identified. First posted at 7:04 a.m.

One of the most bizarre homicides in West Hollywood history went down yesterday morning as a passenger allegedly opened fire on a Metro bus driver not far from the city's sheriff's station.

A suspect was spotted coming out of one of the bus' windows and, according to Fox 11 News, he waited around to be arrested.

It all happened ...

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... shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday on Santa Monica Boulevard west of La Cienega Boulevard, sheriff's officials said.

After shots rang out the bus rolled back into a parked car as an MTA supervisor who happened to be nearby watched, sheriff's Lt. Dave Dolson told CBS Los Angeles.

Cellphone video run by Fox 11 News showed several deputies quickly on the scene, guns drawn.

The driver, described by Metro as 51-years-old, was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead by 9:30 a.m: He had worked as a Metro bus driver for 5 years. The bus was running along Metro's line 105 in the area.

The suspect was described as a man in his 40s. As of late Sunday he reportedly had not been booked and was being questioned at the West Hollywood sheriff's station around the corner from the incident.

CBS2 said two guns were recovered from the bus, which usually runs down La Cienega Boulevard but was rerouted to accommodate the Amgen bicycle race Sunday morning.

Later on Sunday a bomb squad was sent to the bus to check out a briefcase the suspect had left behind, according to Fox11. It was deemed to be just a briefcase.

@DavidBegnaud

Candles in memory of the bus driver Sunday night.

In a statement, Metro and sheriff's officials said this might be the first homicide of its kind ever for the system:

At the scene, Metro CEO Art Leahy told media that this was a highly unusual incident and that his chief concern was for the welfare of the operator's family, as well as the Metro family of bus operators. He could not recall a fatal shooting of a bus operator at Metro or at the Southern California Rapid Transit District.

[Update at 11:22 a.m.]: Anthony Craig Chambers, 41, was arrested and booked on suspicion of murder, according to L.A. County Sheriff's inmate data: He was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

His arrest time was pegged at 9:15 a.m. yesterday.

Metro identified the driver as 51-year-old Alan Thomas:

Metro

Alan Thomas

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

bus, bus driver, homicide, Metro, sheriff, shooting, West Hollywood

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I'm deeply sorry for the loss.Best, Andrew

cutty sark

At sometime between 8 p.m. on May 11, 2012 and 7:45 p.m. on May 15, 2012 a lottery ticket was bought at the Mobil gas station located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Santa Monica Blvd. and Westwood Blvd. in West Los Angeles.

The murder of MTA driver Alan Thomas on Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood involves several unusual details, so far.

These details include

- only one passenger on the bus,- 2 guns recovered on the bus,- a briefcase of undetermined ownership recovered on the bus,- MTA supervisor already at the scene and first to enter bus before the driver has died- the entire event occurs almost right across the street from the West Hollywood Substation of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department.

As of this date, the lottery ticket purchased at the Mobil gas station for the May 15 Mega Millions draw has not been brought in for redemption to any office of the California State Lottery.

Lottery tickets are considered "bearer instruments". Which means that possession of the ticket is considered proof of lawful ownership.

One small thin piece of paper can be the motivation for the most evil of thoughts and the most wicked of plots.

That piece of paper will retain its power to sway men to mayhem, and perhaps, even murder until November 15, 2012.

That is the final day for submission at an office of the California Lotteryto claim ownership of $25 million dollars.

emberglance

It's a weirdly glib tone you adopt here, like this is an amusing novelty...

cutty sark

This is a tragic and grief ridden time for the family and friends of MTA driver Alan Thomas.

There is long haul ahead until the legal system determines if the man arrested at the scene can be convicted of the murder based on evidence collected and presented by the Sheriff Dept.

The final outcome may bring certainty and closure. The final outcome may also bring frustration and disappointment.

That this case occured almost at the doorstep of the sheriff station in West Hollywood can provide confidence to some that it will be handled in a clean and consumate manner and the guilty party will be correctly identified and punished.

To other people, the circumstances raise red flags of concern that the details may not be as simple and apparent as they have been presented. And that an unseen conflict of interest may exist between the Sheriff's Dept. and a truly independent, thorough and objective investigation.

For the friends, family and Colleagues of Alan Thomas to avoid the pain which may be caused by future developments or lack of developments in this case - they need to act quickly and decisively and in unity.

They must initiate their own parrallel investigation of the murder of MTA operator Alan Thomas.

That will cost money. but spend now or forever regret your hesitation.

They will need to hire an independent investigator to first of all:

identify and create their own contact list of any and all witnesses.

identify and monitor the handling of all evidence from the scene and aggresively and immedeately challenge the Sheriff on even the slightest lapse in record keeping and chain of possession of all items of evidence from the scene - most especialy the handling of the surveillance tape from inside the bus.

You will need to bury your friend and co-worker. First collect funds to pay for an independent medical exam (autopsy) before he is laid to rest.

Don't trust anyone to do right by your friend and colleague Alan Thomas - not the Sheriff Dept., not the Coroner, not MTA management or Board Members.

If anyone has plotted to get away with killing an MTA bus operator - then it is up to all MTA operators to make darn sure they can't get away with it.

cutty sark

the news reports say that a man was seen climbing out a window of the bus. Witnesses have spoken to reporters about seeing the man who was arrested put up his hands and lie down on the sidewalk for the sheriffs.

But do we have any witness speaking directly to reporters about seeing someone jump out the window of the bus?

If the sheriff has spoken of such a witness, but we can't find that person or anyone else who saw suspect jump out the window - then we are almost guaranteed that we will be disappointed with the final outcome on closing this case.