Greyhound Bus Hijacked in NC; Suspect Taken Into Custody

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — An armed passenger hijacked a Greyhound bus Thursday night along a North Carolina highway and was arrested after police surrounded the bus after the driver had pulled into a gas station, authorities said. No one was injured.

The bus with 35 passengers was headed south on Interstate 85 from Richmond, Va., to Raleigh, Greyhound spokeswoman Maureen Richmond said. The suspect pulled a gun and ordered the driver to relinquish the bus. The driver slowed down and got off an exit, where she let off all the passengers except two, Richmond said.

North Carolina Highway Patrol Sgt. Jeff Gordon said troopers were following the bus once word of the hijacking came in around 10:17 p.m. The driver pulled into a gas station off U.S. 1 Business near Norlina, which is about 60 miles north of Raleigh. The remaining passengers were released and the suspect was taken into custody after he was hit with a stun gun, Gordon said.

Gordon said the passengers were at a nearby fire station until another bus could be dispatched to pick them up.

The Vance County Sheriff's Office sent a bomb unit to the bus after the suspect commented that there was a bag with an explosive device on board, Gordon said. The search was continuing late Thursday.

The suspect's identity was not immediately released and authorities hadn't determined a motive.