Zhontay Capers is facing a murder charge in the death of Bernard Gribbin, a 12-year employee of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). Capers, 21, allegedly shot Gribbin as she was getting off the bus in Philadelphia. (Capers photo: Philadelphia Police Department; Gribbin picture: Facebook page)
A 21-year-old woman riding a public bus in Philadelphia pulled out a gun and shot the driver several times, killing him in broad daylight, authorities say.
Zhontay Capers is facing a murder charge in the death of Bernard Gribbin, a 12-year employee of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). Prosecutors say Gribbin had just pulled up to a bus stop around 10:30 a.m. Thursday near the intersection of Germantown and Abbottsford Avenues when Capers opened fire, hitting him on his right side. She got off the bus and then turned around and allegedly shot him again. Gribbin, 45, was taken to the hospital where he later died.
Capers ran away but was later arrested. In addition to murder, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner on Friday filed charges of recklessly endangering another person, possession of an instrument of crime with intent, and carrying a firearm without a license.
“What happened on SEPTA [Thursday] morning is inexcusable,” he wrote on X, the site formerly known as Twitter. “All Philadelphians have the right to feel safe on public transit, especially those working to provide these essential services to our city.”
Witnesses told local Fox affiliate WTXF that passengers onboard scrambled to get off the bus by jumping out of windows and emergency exits. No one else was injured.
Police have not determined a motive for the shooting, but Capers’ family released a statement to WTXF saying she was “experiencing a mental health crisis.”
“Her grandmother, who raised her, passed away a week ago due to a short battle with cancer,” the statement said. “We knew that was her breaking point. Zhontay isolated herself from family during her paranoid state. Unfortunately, she didn’t meet the criteria for an involuntary hospitalization.”
The family hadn’t heard from her until they got word about the shooting. They went on to say that they feel the mental health system failed her.
“Our hope is that she gets the mental health support she truly needs once Justice is served!” the statement ended.
Gribbin’s family and co-workers gathered Saturday to honor him with a balloon release. Co-workers called him an excellent employee and friend.
“We all come here just to take care of our families just like Bernard did,” Keith Bradford, the SEPTA Midvale District union representative, told local ABC affiliate WPVI. “None of us expect that when we put our uniform on in the morning that will be the last time we will come back.”
“We have to get a full bulletproof door or something,” said Bradford. “Bernard lost his life for what? He was doing his job.”
Gribbin always kept a positive attitude, even when times were tough.
“Bernard would laugh at us, and tell us to keep our head up and keep our foot on the gas,” Bradford told the outlet.
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