MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After a man shot someone on a MATA bus Wednesday, many bus riders were discussing security procedures Thursday.
“Somebody did get hurt. I did,” said bus rider Charlene Thompson.
She took exception to MATA’s statement that all passengers got off the bus safely.
“When the bus driver opened the door, everybody kind of rushed out, and they pushed me on the concrete,” Thompson said.
She got some minor cuts on her elbow, hand, and knee, but she believed her driver on Route 19 did everything she could to handle a crazy situation.
“The shooter said, ‘You the one that hit me with a rock,’ and the other dude said, ‘You got the wrong guy,'” Thompson recalled.
Thompson said the men started arguing, and no one thought much of it.
That was until one of the men pulled out a gun as the bus turned into the Hudson Transit Center on North Main.
Paramedics transported the shooting victim to the hospital, where he was later listed in non-critical condition.
Police said the shooter got off the bus and ran northbound.
MATA told WREG its driver followed the appropriate steps by requesting the men involved calm down and be seated.
MATA said the driver reported the emergency to a radio dispatcher to alert security and police, and she opened the bus doors to get everyone off.
“What can you do when you got somebody that’s on the bus, and they got a gun?” asked bus rider Octavious Jones.
A member of the Bus Riders Union told WREG she planned to draft a petition to get trained security on the bus.
The shooting suspect has not yet been arrested.
Police ask anyone with information to call 528-CASH.
