Two men arrested after physical fight and shot fired on Pinellas Park bus
PINELLAS PARK Fla. - An ongoing argument between two men escalated into gunfire aboard a public transit bus Sunday morning in Pinellas Park, according to police.
Bus gunfire triggers manhunt
What we know:
Officers responded around 11:45 a.m. Sunday to US Highway 19 and 49th Street after receiving reports of a shooting on a Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus. Investigators said Victor Lambert boarded the bus and resumed a verbal argument with Earltwan Grainger.
Lambert pulled out a gun, prompting Grainger to struggle over the weapon. The gun fired inside the bus, but no one was struck by the bullet.
A tow truck prepares to load a PSTA bus where a shooting occurred.
Suspect caught at park
Timeline:
The fight continued until the bus pulled over on the shoulder of US Highway 19 N. Lambert stepped off the bus, threatened Grainger with the gun multiple times and ran away on foot.
Pinellas Park police officers and Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies tracked Lambert into Mayors Park at Freedom Lake. Authorities took him into custody without incident shortly after he fled.
Medical care and arrests
What's next:
Grainger suffered minor injuries from the physical fight and was not shot. Paramedics took him to a local hospital for medical treatment, and officers arrested him on an outstanding warrant upon his release.
Lambert was taken to the Pinellas County Jail. He faces charges of aggravated assault and improper exhibition of a firearm.
Victor Lambert
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority responds
What they're saying:
The PSTA's Director of Communications and Marketing Amanda Baird released a statement to FOX 13 saying:
"The investigation is ongoing, and we do not have (a) comment at this time."
Unanswered details in case
What we don't know:
Police have not released details regarding the specific nature of the ongoing dispute between the two men.
Officials have not stated what specific outstanding warrant led to Grainger's arrest following his hospital release.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Pinellas Park Police Department press release, as well as a statement from Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority.