FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Fort Lauderdale Police have identified the two people killed in a shooting on a Broward County Transit bus Thursday afternoon and have released more details about what happened as a gunman began shooting at people seated in the rear of the bus.
Police said Gregory L. Campbell Jr., 33, of Lauderdale Lakes, and Danny Colon, 41, of Hollywood, were shot and died from their injuries when a suspect identified as Jamal Jahmarley Meyers, 34, of Oakland Park, opened fire on a county bus as the driver was on a route westbound on West Broward Boulevard. The police report said that Meyers fired 12 rounds at riders seated in the rear of the bus and then reloaded the handgun to shoot 9 more times.
2 other people were injured and remain hospitalized.
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According to the arrest report, video surveillance from Broward County Terminal Bus #21005 shows the bus driving westbound within the 700 block of West Broward Boulevard when the man, later identified as Meyers, takes out a semi-automatic handgun from his right front pocket at 3:23 p.m. and fires 12 rounds at riders seated in the rear of the bus. After firing the rounds, he then reloads the handgun and shoots 9 more rounds. Investigators said that the final round was shot at 3:24 p.m.
Campbell was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:35 p.m., while Colon was transported to Broward General Medical Center and pronounced dead at 4:08 p.m. from gunshot wounds.
911 calls released were mostly of people reporting seeing the bus heading eastbound in the westbound lanes, hitting cars.
(Listen to the 911 calls below)
The bus driver was heralded as a hero for driving to the Fort Lauderdale police station, which Acting Police Chief Louie Alvarez said most likely saved lives.
The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) identified the bus driver as Gwendolyn Whitfield. In a statement online, ATU praised the driver “for her bravery and heroism.”
Whitfield’s family provided a statement to Local 10 on behalf of the veteran bus driver:
”I don’t think of myself as any kind of hero; I think it’s a terrible thing that it happened. It was God that guided me. I am sorry that it happened. I thank God for the ones who were saved and I am very, very sorry for those who were lost.”
Surveillance video from a nearby business shows the bus barreling down Broward Boulevard. The bus driver crashed into a white Mercedes-Benz and a taxicab before maneuvering its way into the Fort Lauderdale police station parking lot. Cell phone video provided to Local 10 showed the immediate aftermath and police appearing to point a gun at a man on the ground in front of the bus as terrified passengers quickly rush off.
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 and a motive for the shooting is still being investigated, according to police. Police are working the case and have not said if the shooter knew any of the victims.
Records show that Meyers has an extensive criminal record with more than 20 arrests, including charges related to drug possession and domestic violence.
Police arrested Meyers at the scene. A gun magazine was found in his front left pocket in addition to a holster on his waistband. The gun police said Meyers used was located on the bus.
After complaining of chest pain, he was transported to Broward Medical Center and after he was medically cleared, was transported to Broward County’s main jail.
He was due to appear in court on Friday but according to his lawyer that had to be postponed because of medical issues. For now, Meyers remains in custody.
Detectives would like to speak to anyone who may know or had contact with Meyers in the days leading up to the shooting. They should contact Detective Carlo Fargnoli at (954) 828-5539.
Broward County released an official statement on Friday about the incident.
“Tragedy struck yesterday on one of our Broward County Transit buses when a lone gunman opened fire on passengers. Sadly, two people were killed, two others were injured and several other people in vehicles associated with the incident were transported to nearby hospitals. ‘I was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the deaths and injuries caused by this senseless shooting on a Broward County Transit bus,’ said Mayor Michael Udine. ‘On behalf of Broward County, I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims and their families. This type of violence has no place in our society. We intend to support law enforcement’s efforts with their investigation.’
“Broward County immediately deployed its Employee Assistance Program team to offer assistance to the bus operator involved in yesterday’s incident as well as to her fellow bus operators and other transit employees. Today is National Bus Operator Appreciation Day and will certainly have a special meaning after the bus operator navigated her way through traffic during a very stressful event to get her passengers to a safe location at the Fort Lauderdale police station.
“Broward County Administrator Monica Cepero said, ‘We applaud the heroic actions of our Broward County Transit bus operator whose quick thinking put the bus and its passengers in a safe zone where immediate help was available for victims of this tragic shooting. Her immediate response resulted in the alleged shooter being arrested promptly by Fort Lauderdale Police. We express our condolences to all the victims and their families. I also commend the brave efforts of the Fort Lauderdale Police and Fire Departments who responded immediately to secure the scene and facilitate the rapid transport of the victims.’ "