A woman was killed early Monday on a Los Angeles public transit train.
The incident occurred around 5 a.m. while the Metro train was between the North Hollywood and Universal/Studio City stations while heading downtown. She was reportedly stabbed in the neck by a man as she was exiting the train onto the platform.
The victim, who was in her 50s, was aided by station security after she was able to get off the train and she was taken by paramedics to a hospital where she later died, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“It was a very violent scene,” Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson Meghan Aguilar told NBC 4 Los Angeles. “This was a completely unprovoked attack. At least, that’s how it appears now.”
The suspected attacker was “wearing distinctive clothing” and carrying two bags, Aguilar said at a news conference. He ran out of the station but was arrested at a nearby bus station about 30 minutes later.
“Metro extends its condolences to her family and friends,” the city’s transit agency said.
The identities of the woman and the man have not been released.
Train service at the station was interrupted for several hours but resumed in the afternoon.
The attack happened on Earth Day, when Metro offers free fares to train and bus riders.
The incident came several days after a Metro bus driver was stabbed by a passenger in a random attack and a 70-year-old man was stabbed after two passengers started arguing. In March, a man hijacked a Metro bus and crashed into a hotel.
“Metro has stepped up the presence of transit security officers on its bus system as part of its broader safety strategy and will be installing reinforced barriers to further protect operators,” the press secretary for Metro Board Chair and LA Mayor Karen Bass told NBC Los Angeles following those incidents.
