FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A woman was hailed a hero on Thursday after a gunman shot four passengers inside the public bus that she was driving in Broward County. Two of the wounded died. She wasn’t injured.
The gunman was identified by police Friday as 34-year-old Jamal J. Meyers.
Surveillance video shows the bus driver was driving the wrong way on Broward Boulevard and collided with two vehicles before stopping in front of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
“The bus driver in this particular case — her quick actions — I am sure, saved lives,” Acting Chief Louie Alvarez said.
Darnell Coles said he was injured when the bus crashed. He said the bus knocked the bumper off a Taxi and rammed the white Mercedes-Benz next to him.
“It was really horrifying,” Coles said. “The way she was set up for that situation, I understand why we got hit. Someone behind you, popping a gun and shooting folks, and you’re trapped — you have got to do something.”
Natasha McGhee said she saw the bus driver pull up to the police headquarters at 1300 W. Broward Blvd. She said police officers were quick to surround the bus.
Fort Lauderdale police said Meyers surrendered and Fire Rescue personnel took him to the hospital after he said he wasn’t feeling well. The two survivors were at Broward Health Medical Center on Friday morning.
Police said Meyers faces two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. Additional charges are pending, they said.
A motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
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