Detectives from Los Angeles Police Department’s West Bureau Homicide Division have released video footage of a fight aboard a transit bus in an effort to identify the individual involved.

Police are seeking information about this suspect, who allegedly seriously injured another passenger in a bus fight. (photo courtesy of LAPD)

On April 5, around 7:05 p.m., two passengers aboard a Santa Monica Big Blue Bus became involved in a verbal dispute that escalated into a physical altercation. As a result of the fight, victim Luis Contreras suffered a serious head injury and is now fighting for his life at a local hospital. The bus was traveling in the area of Westwood Boulevard and Rochester Avenue in West Los Angeles when the incident occurred.

“This fight literally started over one individual stepping on the foot of the other. Words were exchanged, and punches were thrown,” said West Bureau Homicide Detective Luis Carranza who is assigned to the case.

There were several passengers on the bus who witnessed the incident. Witnesses were interviewed, but detectives have not been able to identify the individual involved in the fight. Police are seeking the public’s help to identify the individual involved.

“We need someone to watch the video and look at the photographs,” Carranza said. “Anyone with information can contact us. We just want to know why this unfortunate incident occurred. We want to speak with him to get his side of the story.”

Video footage of the incident is available at www.lapdtv.org.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call LAPD West Bureau Homicide detectives Armando Acero or Luis Carranza at (213)382-9470. Anonymous tips can be called into (877)LAPD-247, Crime Stoppers at (800)222-TIPS or by texting 274637 with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD” Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org.