Feb 29, 2008 11:56 pm US/Pacific
Man Stepping Off Bus In Fullerton Is Shot To Death
FULLERTON, Calif.
Police say a man stepped off a bus in Fullerton Friday afternoon -- to retrieve his bike -- and was shot to death by another passenger after an exchange of words.
Cops used bloodhounds to search for the shooter, who had run into a nearby industrial area.
The victim, whose name was withheld pending family notification, was shot twice about 2:30 p.m. at the bus stop in the 1800 block of West Commonwealth Avenue, said Fullerton police Sgt. Alfred Casas.
The victim was taken to St. Jude Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Both men had been on the bus, but did not interact. Both got off at the same stop, Fullerton police Lt. Alex Bastreri said.
"From what we were told, many witnesses said nothing happened on the bus," Bastreri said. "They started talking when they got off. There is a chance this is gang-related but we haven't determined that yet."
The victim had taken his bike off the bus rack and was pushing it away when he was shot, Bastreri said.
Witnesses told police the suspect had a large tattoo of an "A" on the front of his neck and may be identified as soon as Friday night.
After the shooting, the police search focused on an area bordered by Commonwealth Avenue to the south, Malvern Avenue to the north, Gilbert Street to the west and Bastanchury Road to the east, Casas said.
Part of the search ended at 6 p.m., Bastreri said.
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