A Metro passenger was fatally shot on a bus Thursday afternoon within the Metropolis of Commerce hours after Mayor Karen Bass ordered a “surge” in legislation enforcement amid alarming incidents of violence on the area’s bus and subway system.
A Metro spokesperson confirmed the taking pictures came about on a Line 108 bus. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division has arrested a suspect, in line with Metro.
Metro sources mentioned the assault appeared to have been unprovoked.
“The tragic incident this afternoon aboard a Metro bus within the Commerce space exemplifies how violence is rising in society total and spilling into our native communities,” Metro mentioned in an announcement. “Metro is saddened by this incident and extends our deepest sympathies to the sufferer’s household.”
The Sheriff’s Division mentioned the incident occurred round 4:50 p.m. on the 6200 block of Slauson Avenue, and the sufferer was transported to an area hospital and pronounced useless. The names of the sufferer and the suspect haven’t been launched.
The taking pictures is the newest violent assault on a Metro rider. Three folks had been stabbed in two incidents this week. Final month, a 66-year-old lady was fatally stabbed on the subway as she got here residence from her evening job.
The violence has led to worry amongst some Metro customers, who say they now not really feel secure driving public transit. Earlier Thursday, Bass introduced she would enhance deployment ranges of legislation enforcement, although she didn’t say what number of officers can be added or how lengthy they’d be deployed for.
“The spike in violent crime on Metro that we now have just lately seen in opposition to operators and riders has been completely unacceptable,” she mentioned.
Homicides, aggravated assaults and robberies elevated from 2019 by way of 2023, in line with Metro’s 2023 year-end abstract. There was a pointy enhance in a separate class of crimes that embody battery, vandalism, use of narcotics and intercourse offenses aboard Metro’s trains over the identical interval.
There have been no homicides on Metro trains in 2019, however there have been three in 2020, 5 every in 2021 and 2022, and 6 in 2023, in line with Metro’s knowledge. In December 2023, the B Line noticed an 18% enhance in complete crime in contrast with the earlier month, with a rise in aggravated assaults, robberies and larcenies.
