Key takeaways
Prepare before the opening marker and treat each objective update as a checkpoint.
- Primary goal Bus Assassination is an alternate directory label for The Bus Assassination. Franklin drives a city bus along its route to locate and eliminate investor Isaac Penny.
- Protect mission-critical assets Avoid unnecessary vehicle damage, friendly fire, or abandoning a required target outside the objective radius.
- Use protagonist abilities Use Franklin for precision driving, Michael for controlled gunfights, and Trevor for high-damage combat whenever the mission makes them available.
- Do not rush the final marker Clear pursuit conditions and keep required characters or vehicles together before entering extraction.
Overview
Bus Assassination is an alternate directory label for The Bus Assassination. Franklin drives a city bus along its route to locate and eliminate investor Isaac Penny.
Bus Assassination is an alternate directory label for The Bus Assassination. Franklin drives a city bus along its route to locate and eliminate investor Isaac Penny.
This Story Mode mission advances the protagonists’ connected storyline. Some neighboring missions can become available simultaneously, so the exact play order may vary.
The walkthrough below separates travel, setup, combat, pursuit, and extraction checkpoints so a failed section can be diagnosed without repeating the same mistake.
Characters in this mission
Where this sits
- ●Bus AssassinationcurrentCurrent guide
Branching heist preparations and simultaneous character missions can alter the playable order.
Requirements and recommended loadout
Enter with mission-appropriate ammunition, armor, and a vehicle that can survive the opening travel phase.
- RequiredComplete the preceding story unlocks
- RecommendedFull body armor and stocked ammunitionParticularly valuable for missions marked moderate or hard.
- RecommendedAccurate mid-range weaponA rifle or stable automatic weapon handles most outdoor gunfights.
- OptionalClose-range backupUseful inside buildings, alleys, and vehicles.
- RecommendedSave the relevant protagonist abilityUse it for the most difficult chase, driving, or combat checkpoint.
Objectives
- Travel to the bus depot and take the assigned bus
- Follow the marked route and stop for passengers
- Continue until Isaac Penny is identified
- Pursue him when he flees by bicycle
- Eliminate the target
- Leave the bus and clear any police attention
Detailed walkthrough
- 01
Travel to the bus depot and take the assigned bus
Travel to the bus depot and take the assigned busTravel to the bus depot and take the assigned bus. Approach from the safest side, clear immediate threats, and wait for the possession or collection confirmation before moving to extraction. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.
TipBefore triggering the opening marker, restock armor and ammunition if the mission is expected to involve combat.
- 02
Follow the marked route and stop for passengers
Follow the marked route and stop for passengersFollow the marked route and stop for passengers. Use the minimap to anticipate turns, preserve the mission vehicle, and prioritize keeping visual contact over risky shortcuts. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.
- 03
Continue until Isaac Penny is identified
Continue until Isaac Penny is identifiedContinue until Isaac Penny is identified. Follow the marked route and wait for the objective prompt to update before leaving the area. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.
- 04
Pursue him when he flees by bicycle
Pursue him when he flees by bicyclePursue him when he flees by bicycle. Use the minimap to anticipate turns, preserve the mission vehicle, and prioritize keeping visual contact over risky shortcuts. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.
- 05
Eliminate the target
Eliminate the targetEliminate the target. Move from cover to cover, remove exposed or elevated shooters first, and do not advance until the current flank is secure. Once the checkpoint registers, immediately orient toward the next marked objective.
- 06
Leave the bus and clear any police attention
Leave the bus and clear any police attentionLeave the bus and clear any police attention. Move from cover to cover, remove exposed or elevated shooters first, and do not advance until the current flank is secure. Remain in the final marker until the mission-complete transition begins.
Watch outA failed push can expose the mission vehicle or protagonist to concentrated damage; reset behind cover instead of forcing progress.
Difficult sections and useful strategies
Strengths
- Frequent objective markers make the intended route readable
- Character switching or team roles can divide pressure
- Most combat checkpoints provide cover or a defensible angle
Weaknesses
- Mission-critical vehicles and allies can fail the attempt
- Police or enemy reinforcements punish slow extraction
- Long pursuits can be lost by overcommitting to shortcuts
Best uses
- Clear enemies from range before moving a required vehicle
- Use special abilities during the hardest driving or combat segment
- Restart from the latest checkpoint after a failed gold-medal attempt rather than improvising a damaged route
Completion checklist
- Travel to the bus depot and take the assigned busCheckpoint 1
- Follow the marked route and stop for passengersCheckpoint 2
- Continue until Isaac Penny is identifiedCheckpoint 3
- Pursue him when he flees by bicycleCheckpoint 4
- Eliminate the targetCheckpoint 5
- Leave the bus and clear any police attentionFinal completion condition
Failure conditions and checkpoints
- A required protagonist, ally, or protected target dies.Restart from the most recent mission checkpoint.
- A mission-critical vehicle is destroyed, abandoned, or leaves the playable route.Use the restart option rather than continuing in an unmarked replacement.
- The target escapes or a timed objective expires.Prioritize route discipline and the primary objective over optional combat.
- The player is wasted or all shared team lives are exhausted.Story Mode reloads the latest checkpoint.
On failure
Major travel, combat, and transition phases generally create checkpoints, but exact restart placement can vary by approach and replay mode.
Rewards and aftermath
- Mission completion and progressionUnlocks the next related story activity, contact, property, or preparation where applicable.
Sources and verification
- GTA Base — GTA V missions list and walkthrough index — verified 2026-08-04 — GTA Base
- GTA V Wiki — Story Missions — verified 2026-08-04 — GTA V Wiki
- Codex model knowledge — detailed step expansion pending editorial gameplay review — Internal editorial