In a span of 24 hours, three violent incidents occurred on or near public transit in Los Angeles County, escalating concerns among the public and officials about safety on these systems.
On Monday night, two separate stabbings took place—one on a bus in Glendale and another in an elevator at the Vermont/Athens Station in South Los Angeles. The following afternoon, a man was robbed of his cell phone and struck with pliers on a bus in Encino. The victim sustained minor injuries, and police have identified the suspect as Michael R. Lindsey, a 39-year-old unhoused man. Lindsey, now facing a robbery charge, is being held on $1.12 million bail.
These incidents add to a growing list of violent occurrences on public transportation in Los Angeles County. Commuters expressed their unease to KTLA’s Lauren Lyster, highlighting the unpredictability and potential danger of using public transit.
L.A. County Supervisor and Metro board member Kathryn Barger emphasized the need for addressing homelessness, pointing out the direct impact of housing and mental health care failures on the transit system. “At the end of the day, the transit system is really ground zero for what’s happening on our streets, especially those that are unhoused and ending up on our transit system,” Barger stated.
