Jose Zayas arrested in fatal shooting of Culver CityBus driver

Jose Zayas, 55, has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the fatal shooting of Culver CityBus driver Bruce Rodriguez in the Mar Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles. The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. on Thursday near the intersection of South Centinela and Mitchell avenues.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the shooting followed an altercation between Rodriguez and an allegedly intoxicated passenger regarding a missed stop or a wrong turn. The suspect reportedly pulled a handgun from a bag and opened fire. Rodriguez, a 12-year veteran of the transit service and a father of two, was found unresponsive in his seat and later died at a local hospital.

Zayas was taken into custody on Friday afternoon by the LAPD Gang and Narcotics Division with assistance from an FBI task force. He is currently jailed in Van Nuys with bail set at $3 million. In response to the tragedy, Culver City Mayor Freddy Puza announced a temporary suspension of Culver CityBus services over the weekend to provide support for staff.