Florida Shooting Kills 2, Injures 2 Others in Transit Bus; 3 More Fall Victim in Related Crash
A Florida shooting on a public transit bus has left two people dead and another two injured. Meanwhile, three other people were injured in a car crash that was connected to the shooting incident in Fort Lauderdale.
The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Jamal Meyers, police said. Meyers has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to an ABC News report.
Police said that additional charges are pending. Meanwhile, court records showed that Meyers did not list any attorney information.
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Florida Shooting on Public Transit Bus
Fort Lauderdale Police Department's acting police chief, Luis Alvarez, said that the shooting took place on a Broward County Transit bus, with the driver hearing "several gunshots." The driver of the bus then pulled into the parking lot of the police department.
The acting police chief said that the bus driver's quick reaction saved lives for sure, according to a USA Today News report.
The suspect shot four people on the Broward County Transit bus, according to officials. One of the shooting victims died at the scene, while another later died at a hospital.
The other two victims are still hospitalized. Police said that they have not identified a motive for the shooting yet. However, they said that they believe that there is no further threat to the public.
Alvarez said in a news conference that they had an officer on an unrelated call in front of the police station. The office had also heard several gunshots coming from within the bus, according to an NBC News report.
Three other people were injured in a car crash as the bus driver maneuvered the vehicle to the police station.
A fire department official noted that they were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
The shooter was taken into custody shortly after the police responded.
Alvarez noted that the suspect surrendered to an officer at the scene. Police said that all witnesses are being questioned as part of the investigation.
Gun Deaths in The United States
In 2020, most Americas died of gun-related injuries than in any other year on record.
The record includes gun murders, as well as a near-record number of gun suicides, according to a Pew Research Center report.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that 45,222 people died from gun-related injuries in the U.S. Suicides have long accounted for the majority of U.S. gun deaths.
In 2020, 54 percent of all gun-related deaths in the United States were suicides, while 43 percent were murdered.
The remaining number of gun deaths in the same year was unintentional, involved law enforcement, or had undetermined circumstances.
The 2020 total gun deaths represent a 14 percent increase from the year before. It is also considered a 25 percent increase from five years earlier and a 43 percent increase from a decade before.
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Mary Webber
WATCH: 2 killed, 2 injured in shooting on Florida transit bus - from ABC News