LOS ANGELES _ A woman was killed and five people were wounded early Monday when a man opened fire on a Greyhound bus traveling on Interstate 5 through Kern County, authorities said.
Several passengers on the bus en route from Los Angeles to the Bay Area called police to report an active shooter shortly before 1:30 a.m., California Highway Patrol Sgt. Brian Pennings said.
It is not clear why the gunman opened fire on the bus. After the shooting, the driver pulled to the right shoulder of the freeway, and the shooter voluntarily got off the bus, Pennings said, leaving behind a black handgun and extra magazines.
"The driver of the bus immediately pulled to the right shoulder and somehow _ we're still trying to figure out how this happened _ were able to coerce the suspect off of the bus," Pennings said, calling the driver's action's heroic.
The bus driver then traveled to the next freeway exit, at Grapevine Road, stopping at a Valero gas station to get medical treatment for the passengers. Five passengers were taken to hospitals for treatment. One of the people wounded was flown to an emergency room; the rest were taken by ambulance, Pennings said.
A 51-year-old woman from Colombia was pronounced dead at the scene, Pennings said. The ages, genders and conditions of the others who had been shot were not immediately available. Authorities said there were several dozen people aboard the bus at the time of the shooting.
"I've been on for 25 years and I've never seen this happen," Pennings said.
The gunman, who has not been identified, was taken into custody, authorities said. Federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are working to trace the weapon.
Photos from the scene early Monday showed the bus parked at a Valero gas station in Lebec as authorities combed through the vehicle for evidence.
The bus left Los Angeles at 11:30 p.m. Sunday and was scheduled to make stops in the cities of Avenal and Oakland before ending its route in San Francisco about 7:20 a.m. Monday, according to Greyhound's website.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone and every family member impacted by the incident today," Greyhound wrote in a statement. "We are gathering details and will assist the Kern County police in every way possible during their investigation."
