Bus driver injured in Lake City shooting eager to get back to work

A King County Metro bus driver who was injured during a shooting in Lake City this week spoke to media Friday, to talk about the experience, and how he managed to safely get his 12 passengers to safety.

RELATED: Bus driver injured in Seattle shooting being called a ‘hero’

“As I’m approaching the bus zone, I saw someone look like they were running for the bus stop,” Stark described. “He tripped and fell on the pavement, and he hit the ground hard. He stood up, and very calmly he got into a shooting stance, very calmly took aim, and I heard the report of the gun, saw the glass come through the windshield, and felt the bullet hit me.”

“That’s when I said out loud, ‘I think I was shot,'” he added.

Immediately after being shot, Stark then ducked behind the fare box at the front of the bus and quickly took stock of his condition.

“I took a two-second assessment: ‘Okay, I can breathe, I can move my fingers and toes, I can think, and I can talk — that’s good enough, we’re getting out of here,” he said.

After hitting the emergency alarm to alert transit control that he had been shot, he put the bus into reverse, and managed to get all 12 of his passengers unscathed to safety.

During a news conference Wednesday evening, city leaders praised Stark for his heroic efforts.

“The bus driver who was involved in this incident is a hero,” said Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan. “He saved lives and took action.”

“This bus driver truly is a hero,” said Seattle police Deputy Chief Marc Garth Green.

“He acted heroically and put the well-being of his passengers above all else,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine.

Despite his injuries, Stark is looking forward to getting back behind the wheel.

“I want to get back to work as soon as possible,” he said.

More than anything, he wanted people to know that despite tragic events in the news that seem to occur almost daily, “there were some good outcomes in this, and people need to see that.”

The suspect in the shooting is being held with no bail. Five felony charges were filed against him Friday, two of which are for murder in the first degree, and three for attempted murder in the first degree.

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