Metro bus driver hospitalized after being stabbed in neck in Woodland Hills; suspect at large
A Metro bus driver remains hospitalized in critical condition after he was stabbed in the neck in Woodland Hills and the suspect remains on the run.
According to police, the suspect got on the bus and got into a "verbal argument" with the driver.
WOODLAND HILLS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A Metro bus driver remains hospitalized in critical condition after he was stabbed in the neck in Woodland Hills and the suspect remains on the run.
The incident was reported at around 5:20 p.m. Wednesday near Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Erwin Street. Officers rushed to scene after receiving a call that a bus driver had been stabbed.
According to police, the suspect got on the bus and got into a "verbal argument" with the driver.
"The bus driver and the suspect exited the bus and continued the argument, at which time the suspect produced a knife (or sharp object) and stabbed the bus driver multiple times," read a statement released by police late Wednesday night.
The driver, who was not identified by police, underwent surgery at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.
Police said Mayor Karen Bass visited the hospital to check on the driver and speak with officers about the investigation. She released the following statement soon after:
"This heinous act of violence is horrific and the harm done to one of our Metro drivers is tragic. I join the entire City family in praying for him tonight, and my heart also goes out to his family.
"For so many Angelenos, our transit operators are a part of their everyday lives - they bring our children to school, they bring us home from work and are part of the very fabric of our city, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They do their job of getting us to where we need to go, and we must in turn do our job of keeping them safe.
"Safety on Metro is a top priority, and I will redouble my efforts as Mayor and as a Metro Board member to keep transit riders and workers safe."
The suspect was last seen heading eastbound on Erwin Street from Topanga Canyon. He is being described as a 21-year-old white male with blonde curly hair. Police said he's 6 feet tall with a thin build and was seen wearing a red shirt, black pants, and a black backpack.
All Metro buses are equipped with cameras. Police were able to track down the suspect using footage from those cameras and released the following photos.
Anyone with formation is urged to contact police.
Source: KABC-TV
