CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One person is in custody after two people were injured in a shooting on a Charlotte Area Transit System bus near a southwest Charlotte mall Thursday morning, police said.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department responded to the shooting around 11:15 a.m. along Outlets Boulevard, just steps away from a hotel and the Charlotte Premium Outlets.
CATS said It all started with an argument between a passenger and a bus driver. Things got heated and gun fire erupted. The agency said a passenger pulled out a gun on the bus driver, who also pulled out a gun and they shot each other.
Medic confirmed two people were sent to the hospital with serious injuries following the shooting.
CMPD said a suspect is in custody following the incident. The suspect has not yet been identified.
WCNC Charlotte has reached out to CMPD to learn more about the incident.
RATP Dev USA, which manages the CATS system, released the following statement about the incident:
"RATP Dev USA is aware of the incident that occurred this morning on bus 1030 operating on route #56 at 5404 New Fashion Way near the Charlotte Premium Outlets. RATP Dev USA is actively working very closely with Charlotte PD and CATS on the investigation into the incident. Our number one concern is the health and well being of our Operator who was injured as well as the safety of all our employees and riders across Charlotte Mecklenburg County."
City leaders say this is a reflection of the increase in gun violence in the city and curbing that violence in charlotte is a top priority.
"We have seen, no matter what the individual scenario is… time and time again, our workers, our bus drivers... people who are serving us every day are put in harm's way and in some instances lose their lives and that is not acceptable," said Tariq Bokhari.
Following the shooting death of Ethan Rivera in February of last year, and several acts of violence on bus drivers safety has been a big concern for CATS employees and riders.
"They should have a bit more of a security standpoint on these buses and on these light rails," said Damian McNemar, a rider.
CATS released a statement saying in part “CATS regrets this tragic accident. All employees' and riders' safety and well-being are a top priority and concern.”
It also notes that under policy CATS employees are not allowed to carry a weapon on CATS property or while performing their job.
"There is a rule for these bus drivers not to have firearms on them and that is a rule that needs to be followed," said Bokhari. "But on the other side, we have not done our job in protecting them."
Since last year’s deadly shooting, the agency said it has taken several steps to increase security measures in its transit center and on buses and provides de-escalation training to staff.
Meanwhile, Bokhari said its time to revisit the bulletproof partitions which at the time CATS said were not feasible on its buses.
"If you’re scared for your safety, you are not going to ride," he continued. "But beyond all of that are the employees that have to drive and we have to take care of them first and foremost."
At this time it is unclear if the bus driver will face any charges and if he will lose his job.
Meanwhile, city leaders said they continue to work to address safety and allocate more funds from this current and next year’s budget toward security measures on buses.
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