San Diego

Bus Driver Shot in Torso at Escondido Transit Center

In a fight outside the bus, one man missed his target and pierced the bus driver's window.

A bus driver was shot in the torso at the Escondido transit center Thursday, confirmed Escondido Police.

The shooting happened on a passenger bus, at the West Valley Parkway and North Quince Street at about 6:30 p.m.

Escondido Police Lieutenant Justin Murphy told NBC 7 that the male driver was on his break, parked at the transit center. That's when two men started fighting with another man outside of the bus.

One of the second men pulled out a sawed-off shotgun and fired it at the third man, said Lt. Murphy. But he missed his target and a bullet fragment pierced the window and struck the driver.

The bus driver was not targeted intentionally, said Lt. Murphy. The suspects tried to run away but have since been taken into custody.

The incident was recorded on a digital camera inside a taxi parked behind the bus.

"I was here. I was shocked," said the taxi driver, Pouyan Mostaghim. "Just, at first, I thought it is a terrorist attack. After a second, I smelled a fire smell."

Officers discovered shotgun and shell casings at the scene. Lt. Murphy said the driver's injuries were not life-threatening.

A North County Transit District representative said there were no delays on NCTD or Sprinter service in the area.

The victim was taken to the Palomar Hospital. No other information was immediately available.

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