Police said the passenger fled after the Thursday evening shooting, while Culver City announced a weekend suspension of bus service.
LOS ANGELES, CA — A Culver CityBus driver was fatally shot during a dispute with a passenger in the Mar Vista neighborhood Thursday evening, and police were searching for the passenger after he fled the scene, authorities said.
The shooting was reported at about 5:15 p.m. Oct. 1 near Centinela Avenue and Mitchell Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Other initial reports placed the police response near Centinela Avenue and Washington Boulevard. The driver, described by authorities as a man in his 40s, was taken to a hospital and later died. His identity had not been publicly released early Friday.
Investigators said the shooting followed a verbal dispute between the driver and a passenger aboard the bus. LAPD Capt. Eric Eppolito told NBC Los Angeles that the passenger appeared to be intoxicated and that the argument was apparently related to a wrong direction. CBS Los Angeles reported that witnesses told officers the passenger argued with the driver about missing a turn before pulling a gun from a backpack and shooting him.
Police said four people, including the driver and the suspected shooter, were on the bus at the time. After the shooting, the passenger left the bus and fled before officers arrived. Investigators said he took a bicycle from the front of the bus and rode away, although police also said he may have left the immediate area on foot. He was last seen wearing a white shirt.
No weapon was recovered at the scene, police said. Officers blocked off the area as investigators examined the bus and surrounding roadway. Television footage showed crime scene tape, patrol vehicles and officers gathered near the bus while the investigation continued Thursday night.
The driver’s death prompted Culver City officials to suspend Culver CityBus service through the weekend. Mayor Freddy Puza said the suspension would allow the city to honor the bus operator and mourn the loss of a member of the transit system. City officials described the driver as a valued member of the community whose work served Culver City residents and riders.
The shooting remained under investigation early Friday. Police had not announced an arrest or publicly identified the passenger they were seeking. Authorities also had not released the driver’s name or announced a confirmed motive beyond the dispute described by investigators and witnesses.
Investigators were continuing to determine the circumstances that led to the confrontation and search for the passenger who fled. Further details about the suspect and the investigation had not been released.
Author note: Last updated October 2, 2026.