A passenger on a city bus attacked the driver, then hijacked the vehicle in northeast Washington DC, continuing for several blocks until he careered into a service station and fatally struck a pedestrian, police said.
Police officers swarmed the bus moments after the pedestrian was struck. A witness said the officers pointed guns at the windshield as the driver revved the engine, then the officers stormed the vehicle and overpowered the man.
"The suspect appeared to be very violent and resistant," Police Chief Cathy Lanier said, explaining that he fought as officers took him into custody and that he was taken to a hospital once restrained. "It's a bizarre incident."
The names of the suspect and the victim were not immediately made public and police said they were busy sorting through witness statements. They said the attack appeared random, by a man either distraught or possibly under the influence of drugs. Lanier said the suspect is known to officers and might have assaulted a woman earlier today.
The hijacking unfolded in a matter of few minutes. Police described a frightening sequence of events that began about 10.30 am local time, when a man armed with 18cm-long shears or pliers began beating the driver as about 10 passengers scrambled out of the back of the bus.