Bus driver shot in downtown Seattle; suspect dies of gun wounds

A bus fare dispute turned deadly when a rider who wouldn't pay shot and wounded a Seattle bus driver before being shot and killed by police, officials said. The suspected gunman died sometime late Monday afternoon after police shot him on a second bus following a chase through downtown Seattle, SeattlePI.com reported. The bus driver, who was shot twice, was expected to recover, officials said. Police said the drama began at about 8:45 a.m. PDT when the bus driver was shot. After shooting the driver, the suspect fled and police gave chase. While fleeing, the man pointed a revolver at police at least once, but it wasn't known whether he fired it, interim Police Chief Jim Pugel said. Failing to hijack a truck and a car, the suspect rushed aboard another bus. Some of the 15 passengers and driver on board fled. Officers opened fire on the man aboard the still-occupied bus after he twice brandished his gun. The critically injured suspect was taken into custody and died at an area hospital. Assistant Chief Paul McDonagh said he thought officers were correct in their actions, even though passengers were in harm's way. "The officers are trained to make life-and-death decisions," McDonagh said. "This was very dynamic situation, dangerous and dynamic." The shooting occurred amid concerns aired by business leaders about an increase in violence and disorderly conduct in downtown Seattle, The Seattle Times reported. More than three dozen business and tourism officials wrote to Mayor Mike McGinn in July, calling for "immediate new enforcement resources and strategies from the city," citing eight violent incidents downtown in the past two months.