Arrest made in deadly Broward bus shooting. Police say bus driver’s actions saved lives
As the chaotic scene of gunfire unfolded inside a Broward County bus Thursday afternoon, a still unidentified driver’s heroic actions saved lives as she barreled through traffic to reach a police station, authorities said.
The motive for the shooting — which left two people dead on the bus, two others wounded and three others hurt in related car crashes — remained unclear. But Friday morning, Fort Lauderdale police identified the gunman as Jamal J. Meyers, 34. He was arrested and charged with two counts of first degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Police say additional charges are pending.
.png "Screen Shot 2022-03-18 at 8.31.16 AM_fitted (1).png")
Fort Lauderdale Acting Police Chief Luis Alvarez said the bus driver was going west on West Broward Boulevard when she heard shots fired inside the bus around 3:30 p.m.
She then headed to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department Headquarters, only a few blocks away. Driving the bus into oncoming traffic and smashing past a taxi and Mercedes Benz SUV, she managed to get into the parking lot of the department.
“Her [the bus driver’s] quick actions I’m sure saved lives,” Alvarez said. “Kudos to her, she deserves to be applauded for her actions... To get to the front of the police station, have that presence of mind, pretty much saved lives.”
An officer outside the station, on an unrelated call, also heard the gunfire. When the officer went to investigate, Alvarez said, the suspect (now identified as Meyers) walked off the bus and surrendered to him. A gun was recovered inside.
Additional officers went aboard shortly thereafter and found four people shot, he added. Life-saving measures were taken, but one person died on the bus. The other three were taken to the hospital, and three people inside the cars that the bus hit were treated for minor injuries.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Stephen Gollan said two of the people hospitalized were taken to Broward Health Medical Center in critical and stable condition, respectively. One of the two died at the hospital.
Identities of the bus driver, victims injured and those killed have not been released. No attorney information was listed for Meyers in Broward court records Friday morning.
All traffic along West Broward Boulevard was closed between the 1400 and 1100 block, but has since been reopened.
Motive is not yet known, Alvarez added. Meyers and witnesses were being interviewed as detectives tried to piece together what transpired on the bus.
Broward County Transit did not provide a statement.
Miami Herald Reporter Omar Rodriguez Ortiz and Michelle Marchante contributed to this report.
This is a developing story.
This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 5:02 PM with the headline "Arrest made in deadly Broward bus shooting. Police say bus driver’s actions saved lives."
%20Cropped%20(2).jpg)