Drive-by shooting in Tacoma seriously injures man, strikes Pierce Transit bus
A man was badly hurt Monday in Tacoma when he was hit by a bullet in a drive-by shooting, according to police. The gunfire also struck a Pierce Transit bus. No one aboard was injured.
Tacoma Police Department officers responded to the shooting at about 6:34 p.m. in the 4700 block of South Oakes Street, in the parking lot of a convenience store near the Tacoma Mall, police said.
Few details about the incident were available Tuesday morning. Police said a 30-year-old man went to the hospital with a gunshot wound, and he is in serious but stable condition. A gun was recovered at the scene.
It’s unclear what prompted the shooting. A police spokesperson said it appeared to be targeted.
Five people including the driver were on the bus hit by gunfire. Pierce Transit spokesperson Rebecca Japhet said bullets struck a driver’s side window toward the back and a rear section of the vehicle. She said the bus, which runs between the Tacoma Mall and downtown, was stopped at the intersection of South Oakes and 47th Street when the shooting occurred.
“The operator heard shots being fired, got to the floor of the bus and instructed the passengers to do the same,” Japhet said.
The driver contacted Pierce Transit headquarters to call for help, and once she felt it was safe, she drove to the Tacoma Mall Transit Center. Japhet said that was the destination for some passengers, and others got their own ride. The bus was then brought back to its base.
“We are so grateful our bus driver and customers were not harmed in this incident,” Japhet said. “We especially want to thank the bus operator for her professionalism and quick thinking that helped get her customers to safety.”
This story was originally published December 20, 2022 at 7:46 AM.
