CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Editor's Note: A previous version of this article reported that Darian Thavychith would appear in Mecklenburg County District Court Wednesday. Due to the indictment, that is no longer the case.
Darian Thavychith, the man charged with shooting and killing CATS bus driver Ethan Rivera in February, was indicted by a grand jury this week, court officials said.
Thavychith, 21, was arrested in Kansas on March 1 after being on the run for over two weeks. He was formally charged with murder and shooting into occupied property in connection with Rivera's killing.
The Mecklenburg County District Attorney's Office confirmed he was indicted by a grand jury on those charges Monday. As a result, his case will be transferred to Superior Court. Thavychith was originally scheduled to appear in district court Wednesday. His next court date is scheduled for May 12.
Rivera was shot on Feb. 11 while driving along West Trade Street near Truist Ballpark in Uptown. He was rushed to a hospital where he died the next day, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said.
CATS CEO John Lewis said following Thavychith's arrest that the update was a "bright ray of sunshine" for the CATS family. Since that time, CATS drivers have addressed Charlotte City Council about their safety concerns.
Earlier this month, City Councilman Tariq Bokhari unveiled a bulletproof partition that could protect drivers from assaults. The prototype still has to be reviewed by CATS officials.
Wake Up Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at Wake Up Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || TuneIn || Google Podcasts
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.