Teen stabbed Metro bus driver over unpaid fare in Woodland Hills, police say

A 17-year-old has been arrested in Wednesday's stabbing of a Metro bus driver in Woodland Hills, police announced at a news conference Thursday afternoon.
His name is not being released given his status as a juvenile, however, police continue to share a surveillance photo of him from inside the bus.
The stabbing occurred around 5:15 p.m. at Erwin Street and Topanga Canyon Boulevard after a verbal argument over "fare evasion," investigators said. The suspect and the 61-year-old driver both got off the bus, and that is when the teen allegedly stabbed the driver repeatedly in the chest, neck, and back, and then ran away.
KTLA's Chris Wolfe reports on May 25, 2023.
Details: ktla.com/news/...
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[@mechwarrior-oz7pn]

He should be tried and convicted as an adult. From the way he viscously attacked the bus driver, this is likely not his first violent crime.

[@enriqueescobedo6068]

Baby daddy gascon will give him 7 years max because hes a teenager.

[@jwayne777]

​@@enriqueescobedo6068, wrong. He will get 6 months in juvenile hall. Fact.

[@TripleCubedTriune]

Why is the 17 year old who stabbed a civil transportation employee with harmful intent a 'boy' & 'teenager' as emphasized by the report?.. that's a grown man under those circumstances.

[@janethefriend-awakened33]

He has the complexion for protection. Gotta soften the blow.

[@kimleone5496]

My thoughts exactly. He's not a boy. He's a brutal criminal

[@elizabethr4107]

Esp at his 6ft large frame

[@janethefriend-awakened33]

@@whatsthat1421 it's obvious that you are clueless to the meaning/phrase. those who know don't have time to help you understand Smh

[@janethefriend-awakened33]

@@whatsthat1421 to explain...many times when a black child commits a crime the media describes him like an adult to vilify him no matter what the crime even if it's something minor like shoplifting. however, white minors are never described that way and are called kids, boys, girls etc which minimize the effect of adult actions. This was a white 17 year old who did a violent crime but the media softened the details for him. Blacks and other minorities never get that.

[@gofar12345]

Enroll him in an anger management captivity for the next 75 years.

[@tomasinacovell4293]

Leave him in a dark cell all alone with some rope.

[@davidanderson8469]

👍

[@robbieogle8622]

Try him as an adult

[@ragnarlothbrook7958]

If the driver would have defended himself the media would be singing a different tune.

[@marciayoung1094]

I agree

[@elizabethr4107]

Exactly

[@GladYouAreMad]

How is it the bus drivers fault that this guy is broke and stupid? Wish the bus driver a speedy recovery.

[@LuckyCharms777]

@@akemi.sat0 Wrong. Too many people prioritize other things instead of bus fare. If I can’t afford gas, should I expect the gas station to give it to me for free?

[@scottsent8120]

I don't know how they find enough people who want to work as bus drivers when they have to deal with scum regularly.

[@lindsaywilliams7372]

I hope the kid is tried as an adult and sent away for a good long time in an adult facility.

[@mayakattt3475]

That’s attempted murder. His parent need to be charged as well & held accountable

[@charleswidmore5458]

That thug needs to be locked up for 50 years but the parent did not commit the crime. They appear to have raised a rabid feral animal but they did not stab that poor driver.

[@chosensoul323]

I know man parents cry for they troubled kid to change. Don't blame parents

[@anastasijachamkina9001]

No I dint believe his parents are accountable for his actions But HE definitely deserves every single punishment coming to him

[@charleswidmore5458]

I would offer him the choice of two options. 1 - 50 years minimum with no chance of parole. 2 - an eye for an eye justice and if he survives 5 years minimum with no chance of parole.

[@ColonelStraker]

Dims will BLAME the knife not the MENillTALness

[@Johnnyred51]

As usual, the judge will give him probation and let him go free like they do all these thugs. Enough already! Lock them up for decades!

[@johnhmielewski1230]

There's not enough room in the jails that's why they keep releasing this guys.

[@Fitnesstop19]

There’s always a gas chamber or injection!

[@davidanderson8469]

With Gascons approval of course.

[@cryptomando]

His 2nd stabbing should give him a few nights in jail

[@joseureste8257]

​@@johnhmielewski1230 they released most prisoners during covid.

[@thestone30080]

Wow to think he’s only 17 years old and did a crime like this, if he doesn’t want to pay the fare then he should just walk for miles wherever he wants to go, I’m glad this scumbag has been caught.

[@marciayoung1094]

A young boy in Florida was only 14 years old and stabbed a young girl 118 times so in my opinion 17 is grown

[@David-cv8zd]

Perhaps he didn't HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE FARE. I can't judge a situation when I wasn't there. Maybe YOU were

[@treasureseeker8489]

​@@David-cv8zd WHAT DOES NOT HAVING MONEY TO PAY, HAVE TO DO WITH THE PRICE OF TEA IN CHINA?????????

[@johnhannon2009]

@@David-cv8zd Then he shoui have tried to ride the bus 🤡

[@johnhannon2009]

@@David-cv8zd excuse me,he shouldn't have tried to ride the bus then 🤡

[@sandib4234]

My God, The anger from this Evil attacker! He was trying to kill this man stabbing him that many times and this man is still in critical condition. They need to put him away for quite some time!!

[@Korvilon]

17 and stabbing people isn't a boy, those are adult crimes from someone a hair away from being a legal adult.

[@lpprescue]

He'll be out tomorrow and the bus driver will go to jail and get sued

[@Oshitzitsme93]

😅

[@johnhannon2009]

That's what would have happened if the bus driver whooped his a**.

[@rdckongo8511]

This is attempted murder , a harsh punishment is needed 🤦🏽

[@kittycat9594]

They should have a door. Protects the driver of the bus🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@ursafan40]

They should have a gun, or a guard with one on the bus.

[@laylonklein4162]

In San Antonio Texas the city bus has a door protecting the drivers

[@silentmajority8365]

You wanted diversity

[@TheDebunker2050]

@@silentmajority8365 What is ethnicity is the violent criminal?

[@sinistransgressionofthetor5449]

@@ursafan40It’s almost at the point the drivers need stab resistant armor, oc spray, a firearm Gives me armor truck driver vibes but this is happening too much. Drivers are vulnerable. Dangerous for passengers, other motorists and pedestrians too

[@sagate953]

This is why you don't argue with them. If they don't want to pay then just let them go. In the long run the fair is not worth it.

[@davidanderson8469]

This why he should be supplied with pepper spray. Driver's fault eh?

[@sagate953]

@@davidanderson8469 no. Just don't get into a confrontation. The fair isn't worth what could happen. Just let the fair jumper jump and call it a day.

[@jasonn4597]

@@sagate953it’s spelled fare, not fair

[@sagate953]

@@jasonn4597 well excuse me Webster's.

[@LuckyCharms777]

Yeah, just enable and entitle them because that always resolves the problem. Just kick the problem down the road and let the next bus driver deal with it.

[@sandraconnelly7507]

Absolutely attempted Murder. Couple of decades in Prison might be a good start. Going to work and you are almost killed by a blood thirsty monster because you ask for his fare. Unfortunately it happens everyday.

[@maschwartz55]

Life sentence for that kid

[@elizabethr4107]

This is so scary. I hope swift justice is served 🙏

[@corydee123]

Take away his ebt card!

[@irmarocha7809]

PRAYERS FOR THE DRIVER! 🙏✝️😢

[@silentmajority8365]

BUILD A WALL

[@jigc23]

​@@silentmajority8365 around the bus driver?

[@TripleCubedTriune]

Heal quickly Bless up

[@silentmajority8365]

@@jigc23 around America Guy is foreign

[@silentmajority8365]

@@whatsthat1421 Making you cry?

[@Hulknuts78]

I always thought ever since I was a little boy riding on the bus over 40 years ago, that they should always have been a police officer on the bus to protect everybody that’s there

[@Tortilla.Reform]

Police tend to make things worse with their incompetence and ego

[@AnastasiaBeaverhousn]

You people already complain about taxes!!! 🥴

[@photosynthesis69]

There’s simply not enough police officers. They can not be everywhere at once. I don’t know if you ride the bus or train anymore today, personally I ride it quite often. Saying that because LA Metro have increased their presence over the past year or so. However, things like this still happen unfortunately. There have actually been multiple stabbings within the past couple months this one just getting more attention because it was a driver that got stabbed, and not a fight between 2 riders that got less attention.

[@jeanineferris488]

@@AnastasiaBeaverhousn Who is "you people"?

[@cece5767]

​@APJERSEYGIRL well look wtf happened. You're a tax payer too

[@Sage5740]

I ride Metro bus, train and use the Dash services everyday in Los Angeles. The last year-and-a-half has only been getting worse. It's not safe at all. I see something always happening on a daily basis. The homeless, either sleeping or urinating/ defecating. People getting robbed or assaulted. As well as the upshift in graffiti. This is now the City of fallen Angels.

[@palmtrees2420]

You should've seen LA county in the 90s. It's been the city of fallen angels.

[@aprilh8022]

Lock these thugs up

[@robertaripley]

17 year old man. He’s not a boy.

[@noniboo1521]

Theres no area guaranteed to be safe no matter how nice it is.

[@jessedorsettii9988]

Charge him as an adult, if he is 18 or not.

[@WorldReserveCurrency]

despicable

[@bobbymoss6160]

What kinda drug was that little monster on?

[@elhuddleston17]

Stop making excuses for these people

[@billybowman3891]

He was mad about herpes.

[@pete1853]

@@elhuddleston17 - That doesn't sound like he's excusing anybody. He called him a monster.

[@elhuddleston17]

@@pete1853 I know but people make excuses for these people and for one it's old.

[@minion0777]

Charge him as and ADULT and also charge his PARENTS!!

[@bk9696338]

and grand parents too, why not?

[@marciayoung1094]

Are you mad at your parents honey

[@treasureseeker8489]

​@@marciayoung1094 NO STUPID!!!!!!!

[@guthyranker1724]

Another mental case.

[@lilliansrakovcic1365]

More like a stupidity and disrespect.

[@randynorwood7001]

Hope he makes a speedy recovery. If this happens again don"t argue with unpaid passengers.Call the transit police and let them handle it.

[@AJAY-mn9qb]

That's the problem, no one can stand up for anything, we are all supposed to live in fear and look the other way. No thanks. Someone should have dropped his sorry behind. Keep putting up with this crap and it's just going to get worse.

[@silentmajority8365]

Not sending their best BUILD A WALL

[@davidanderson8469]

Driver's fault I guess? With Gasgon he'll be sent to a psychiatric facility and released.

[@AJAY-mn9qb]

@@davidanderson8469 I think they kicked Gasgon out, did a recall. I'm sure his replacement is about the same though.

[@rubylimey7614]

​@@AJAY-mn9qb i totally agree...but this a perfect example of why most wont stand up! He is bless to still bnb be alive..Praying complete healing for the driver🙏🙏🙏

[@francisgoldstien6153]

That's a bad apple

[@aprilh8022]

Nah all those kids rotten

[@robertgrays8790]

The system overall isn't safe if a driver gets stabbed.

[@PatriotChick]

WTF 🤬

[@nyla298]

In OC , it's pretty safe so far . But I try not take the bus, unless I have to. Hope the bus driver survives .🙏

[@josiegraham2591]

Locked this kid for life he is 17yo he know what he’s doing

[@smokingjoe9864]

No trial? Just take some bus driver's word what happened. The bus driver got off the bus. Why? Do beat the kid? Some crazy bus driver run up on me, I would gut him too.

[@LeafsAndCars]

I will keep the driver in my thoughts and prayers.

[@places2prayl.a.539]

This is a crazy story because students can ride FREE!

[@marciayoung1094]

Sense when ??

[@smfarrie2943]

@@marciayoung1094 sense or since 😂

[@emmapeel8163]

most big cities have either reduced or free Students Pass.

[@SocialismSucks]

@@smfarrie2943. I sense it’s since.

[@allstars8184]

It’s always Been a dolla

[@anapatricialeal5589]

Creazy men😱 I prayer for the Driven .🙏🙏

[@kirkanos3968]

You have to be pretty crazy to stab someone

[@dwjunior]

Charge the 17 year old as an adult!! Throw the MAXIMUM sentence at him. 🙏❤️ for the driver.

[@Terradiva]

ANGELENOS ARE SICK OF VIOLENT INDIVIDUALS. It doesn’t matter how many use transit and travel safely. ONE PERSON violently attacked is TOO MANY! This is one of MANY violent encounters while the valley is starved of police resources.

[@AJAY-mn9qb]

Yeah well remember that Defund The Police thing? How's that working out for you? Newsflash, Police are human too and why stay in an area where you are hated when you can go elsewhere and be respected? No one wants to Police in these Liberal cities....and this is coming from someone who worked in one of those Liberal cities.

[@marciayoung1094]

Totally 💯

[@davidanderson8469]

BLM's broke too. The bleeding heart white's went along with all the rioting and violent protests and now are gasping at what they wrought.

[@mhaas281]

​@@marciayoung1094 I doubt it. Pretty sure they will continue to vote for it.

[@Channel--Ai]

Open borders so you ain't seen nothing yet.

[@patriciastaimee]

Put up a gate too protect them...and please don't argue for the fare..here in New York..tons of people ener the bus without paying every single day...be careful drivers...may this Driver be healed..

[@SPEIGHTS78]

Ok I'm so sorry this happened but last time I checked bus drivers had been instructed to STAY SEATED and to not leave the safety of the bus. MOST buses are fitted with a SECURITY DOOR for the driver to be protected. Why did the driver leave the safety of the bus over an unpaid fare issue that honestly, depending on bus route they have, happens 6x or more within an 8-12hr shift. There's more to this story than what's being told here. I've rode the metro sys for 30 years even broken up my share of fights and other situations while riding to help the drivers and law enforcement. We're missing/ not being told something here to cause the driver to get off /leave his position on the bus AFTER the passenger got off.

[@davidanderson8469]

Driver's fault? Maybe he wanted to teach the kid some facts of life that the parent's haven't.

[@SPEIGHTS78]

@@davidanderson8469 You sound 🙄 not very "informed". If what you say were true the driver literally just lost his livelihood and possibly his life for nothing. Please think things through before you commit

[@TheArtOfDean]

I remember something a retired police officer once told me; wherever you have people, you're going to have problems. Hopefully the driver will make a full recovery.

[@johnhannon2009]

Some places more so than others especially where the far left runs anything.

[@JoseSilva-ip5xi]

In San Diego CA public transportation is very dangerous and that has being for years and the system don't care.

[@johnhmielewski1230]

Imagine if Daniel Penny was there to keep the Bus Driver safe. Too bad he's in court defending himself for trying to help fellow citizens from some other lunatic.

[@kencleg7721]

Ban knifes I wanna know who made the knife was it an assault knife ?

[@lakelandpiper8400]

Charge his worthless parents as well.

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

Sad to see society ho down the toilet

[@Zeuszgrl]

Speedy recovery to the poor driver and lock this kid up and keep him locked up, while giving psychiatric care as well ! Also, Law enforcement and the News media should ALWAYS alert the public by releasing the images of the violent criminal and NOT blurring out , ( or showing no image at all) like when it is a Black perpetrator, OK ? We've noticed that trend and it doesn't change the facts...Show the FACES, ALL of them.

[@ZaterahUniverse]

Wow, that's horrible.

[@apologiamixer]

This is what the death sentence is for. Firing squad.

[@jamesnash6101]

There was a metro driver with 40 years of experience. And he said to me; "How I have survived this job for that long is because. I don't pay any attention to that fare box. If they pay, or don't pay. Is of no concern to me. My job is to drive the bus safely, on schedule, and to go home to my family in one piece. That is the ONLY way I have driven and survived for 40 years." Ya.... I don't understand any drivers logic if they argue over a $3 fair. Question: is the risk worth winning over that fair? And what is the grand prize?

[@donaldduck4867]

He needs to be locked up for attempted murder as an adult. They better not let him out.

[@robertthomason8905]

Who raised the kid? Baby momma or baby daddy?

[@lilliansrakovcic1365]

Corrupted village, that’s who.

[@mhaas281]

Attempted murder. Treat this as an adult crime and lock him up. I guarantee you this punk will end up murdering someone if he's not locked in a cage.

[@debbiej10101]

I'm beginning to think bus drivers need to be in a bulletproof enclosure...poor guy

[@LuckyCharms777]

“Overall, the system is safe.” Yeah, except for the victims. There’s absolutely no reason why the system shouldn’t be nearly entirely safe for all users and drivers.

[@dlo7573]

KTLA is doing a great job of attempting to down play it by continuously repeating 17 year old "Boy". Way to go LA. What happened to "person"? Does KTLA know as a fact this person ID's as a "Boy"? Bad reporting?

[@jkalibeelz4339]

I saw a news segment on this where drivers were terrified that this would happen.. Scary.. 🙏

[@obersturmfuhrer88]

Put him away for life.

[@BitSmythe]

*Adult crimes demand adult punishment.*

[@jeff0605]

Glad to hear he’s off the streets

[@BoBo-ti6jh]

I have lived in Woodland Hills for 45 years and since developers built a lot of apartments about 10-12 years ago the whole neighborhood gas become a ghetto.

[@AMIR-nm7fo]

NO, NO, NO. THESE MEN AND WOMAN THEY HAVE TO ENDURE ABUSE EVERY DAY. NO WAY TO LET THIS CRIMINAL GET AWAY WITH THIS ACT JUST BECAUSE HE IS "A BOY" A MAMAS BOY. HE NEEDS TO BE EN JAIL.

[@smokingjoe9864]

The bus driver is a throttle jockey that argues with passengers over 2 bucks. The driver got off the bus to fight. Well, he got his fight.

[@WLA-General]

Usual Suspects👻👈🏾

[@wificracker41]

Spooks lol

[@mrgallagher7072]

😂

[@tpndgo2061]

black ? not on this video. but every day there is three or five of them.

[@strife3084]

No, he was human. no ghost here. but you never know, maybe he was possessed by Samuel Little! 😆

[@TheIntrovert83]

I was waiting for this comment. They always talking trash about Blacks..

[@briyanalvarez9946]

Laws have to change! Teenagers are getting out of control its not safe anywhere. More and more teenagers are committing horrible acts of violence, robberies, murders and no one is being held accountable they need to start charging them as adults and no bail were living in a messed up society right now everyone be safe out there stay aware of your surroundings 🙏🏻

[@lisalamour4909]

Insane that they call the system safe. NO it's NOT safe.

[@kimleone5496]

17-year-old boy? The 17-year-old should have enough common sense and decency. I hope he's tried as an adult... And locked up

[@TWEAKLET]

if you feel old enough to stab someone repeatedly over a bus fare then you should be tried as an adult senseless act against an elderly over like 2 dollars

[@letthatsinkin5531]

No law no peace. In the u s. If your job dealing with ppl, you better pray every day

[@rjintheusa1163]

When consequences don't fit the crime, the crimes only get more brazen and violent.

[@backwoodscommonsense1578]

Gee LA. Why didn’t your gun control stop this attack?

[@Thanks4graceinfitely]

Usual suspect guess it’s the culture.

[@bobbybrooks5846]

Two wrongs don’t make it right, but damn he was wrong both times.

[@missbell247]

He is a good kid…. 🤷🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️.

[@dianegreen1937]

The very best of kids 👌🏿☝🏾👍🏿

[@garychesser5277]

In what universe?

[@debbieframpton3857]

Good kids do not stab people

[@nyla298]

Not funny

[@billybowman3891]

He’s just misunderstood 😂 he doesn’t stab people very often, it means he likes you.

[@EvenStevenSays]

I really question the parenting styles of the Millennials on how they raised Gen Z cuz let me tell you it’s getting out of hand. I feel like they get triggered when you say NO to them.

[@397coney7]

Its great that kalifornia politicians decided to make it illegal for good citizens to protect themselves with guns, against weapon-wielding violent thugs🙄

[@jenniferescalante4171]

This is horrible. Why aren’t those buses protected with glass like the others?

[@felipedelossantos1545]

If he thought he had problems before the stabbing. His new life is going to be so much worse.

[@Vision-nr8zy]

Jail for life anytime you injure a worker

[@yourfriend4104]

Put that kid down.

[@bluesquirrel3919]

Wait, was that a white boy? I thought they were all perfect, coming from their two parent households and such

[@djxcel23]

The bus driver should have never got off the bus. Don’t even argue, its not your money & it’s not worth it.

[@js-ek3mc]

I wonder if this kid has priors !!!!

[@jayj3008]

🤦🏾‍♂️TELL ME YOUR BROKE WITHOUT TELLING ME YOUR BROKE🤦🏾‍♂️

[@chrisambriz8875]

Fentanyl is amazing 😭

[@hughcarrington5647]

Guess he is well on his way to a life of crime.

[@dianecelento4974]

Prayers for the victim.

[@FlixCreEightR]

Enforce the laws again!

[@tiger1044]

CHARGE HIM AS AN ADULT!

[@1KINGLOVE1]

He's young and white he'll get some psychiatric diagnosis and escape punishment.

[@laopang91362]

Los Angeles madness and too many city leaders just give lip services.

[@DrDangerPuppy]

Where are all the calls to ban knives?

[@lexa_power]

And this is why i don’t feel safe taking the bus anymore as a single disabled female in the valley 🤦🏼‍♀️ those of us who can’t drive have to catch Ubers & Lyfts everywhere now or got to stay home. Sad.

[@lueecam9320]

Nice to hear they caught that piece of garbage.

[@emmapeel8163]

Adult crime. Adult time. he's a danger to everyone