A bus passenger was killed today in Los Angeles after a gunman boarded the vehicle to take hostages, sparking a spectacular police chase through the city’s streets.

The suspect boarded the bus just before 1 a.m. and the chase lasted about an hour, Los Angeles police said.

The driver and only two passengers were in the vehicle.

During the chase, the driver kept his cool despite driving at gunpoint, followed by dozens of police cars.

The driver “showed incredible self-control and sounded the silent alarm to alert law enforcement,” Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn said at a news conference.

The police threw nails into the road to burst the tires of the vehicle, which eventually stopped at an intersection in the center of the city.

The intervention of special forces (SWAT) was deemed necessary because the suspect remained inside the bus, along with the hostages. Officers surrounded the vehicle and climbed up, using non-lethal ammunition and stun grenades.

The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was arrested.

During the police intervention, one of the passengers was injured by bullets and died while being transported to the hospital. The second passenger and the driver were unhurt.

In recent months, there have been several violent incidents on public transportation in Los Angeles. In March, a gunman took over a bus and sat at the wheel. After colliding with several vehicles, he ended up stopping at a hotel. In April, a woman died after being stabbed in a subway station.