Dallas, Texas – In a shocking incident that occurred just after noon on Thursday, a DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) bus driver was shot and carjacked while going to his car at the J.B. Jackson Jr. Transit Center near Fair Park. The victim, a DART bus operator, was in the middle of the day when he became the target of a carjacking.
DART authorities reported that a suspect, identified as a woman, was arrested in connection with the carjacking and shooting. The assailant allegedly shot the bus operator and fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle. Fortunately, DART police officers were able to track down the stolen car and apprehend the suspect near Mesquite. According to Gordon Shattles, a spokesperson for DART, the suspect was arrested without further incident.
The suspect, whose name has not yet been released, faces a serious charge of aggravated assault of a public servant. The carjacker’s motive and any potential recovery of the weapon used in the attack are part of the ongoing investigation.
The injured bus operator was promptly taken to Baylor Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Thankfully, he is expected to recover from the traumatic incident.
While DART has recently implemented enhanced security measures at stations and on trains due to growing crime concerns, incidents like this one are considered rare. DART spokesperson Gordon Shattles emphasized that ensuring the safety of employees and passengers is a top priority for the transit agency.
DART had taken steps to bolster security by hiring over 100 additional transit security officers earlier this year, in addition to its existing force of more than 250 DART police officers. Despite these measures, a tragic murder occurred at the DART Bachman train station just last month, and as of the latest update, no arrests have been made in that case.
In light of recent events, DART is committed to further expanding its security presence at its various platforms and on all of its trains, with a total of 65 platforms across the transit system. The investigation into the carjacking and shooting is being led by DART police.
