L.A. Bus Hijacker Wounded

A Los Angeles man who threatened to kill himself after hijacking a city bus at gunpoint for 12 hours was shot by police early this morning after unsuccessful attempts to talk him into surrendering, a Police Department spokesman said.

Clarence Allen Jr., 36, was listed in critical condition this morning at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital with leg wounds. There were no passengers aboard the RTD bus at the time of the hijacking Thursday afternoon, and driver Charles Scott was released unharmed by the gunman halfway through the ordeal after the bus came to a stop on 20th Street off the Santa Monica Freeway. Scott had forced the driver to take him to Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino, where he wanted medical help, but changed his mind, and the bus returned to Los Angeles, police said.