The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority honored two of its operators during a meeting Thursday whose quick thinking during separate D.C. shootings is being lauded.
Train operator Victoria Stanley is being praised following a fatal December shooting involving an off-duty FBI agent and another person on a Metro Center platform.
“I opened the window and I heard gunshots ring out, so at that moment I thank God for allowing me to respond quickly, and to get everyone to a place of safety," Stanley said.
Metro Transit police released surveillance footage, which shows the intense moment an off-duty FBI agent and 28-year-old Troy Bullock plunged over a barrier.
In the video, it appeared the agent approached Bullock and they got into a physical altercation before Bullock pushed the agent over. The agent fired shots, killing him.
Stanley said she heard the shots and thanked God she was able to respond quickly for the safety of her passengers.
“At the end of the day, it’s my responsibility to get the customers safe, I make that final call, and just thankful that I did," she said.
Also honored Thursday was Metrobus driver Quavena Hall, who became emotional as she was recognized for her efforts during a Northwest D.C. shooting.
On January 11, A 9-year-old and a 6-year-old were shot while getting off a Metrobus in the Brightwood neighborhood on their way home from school, Metro Transit Police said.
A fight that started on the bus moved to the street and one person started shooting, hitting two children and an adult, police said.
In the midst of chaos, Hall managed to get the children back on the bus and drove them and other passengers to safety.
Bus driver Raynell Redd was also honored after she helped a young boy who’d wandered from home reunite with his family.
“I feel blessed to be able to help him, I’ve been thinking about him every day since this situation has happened," Redd said.
“What they did was just amazing. The quick thinking, being so responsible and customer focused, and the safety of those customers, was really extraordinary," added Paul Smedberg, Metro Board of Directors.
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