Person stabbed after argument on LA bus, one day after new protective barriers for drivers are announced

A person was stabbed on the sidewalk after an argument on a Los Angeles Metro bus, a day after the transportation agency announced it approved barriers to protect bus operators due to a rise in assaults on drivers.

Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a Friday incident on a Metro bus in South Los Angeles.

“There was an argument among three people on a bus near Figueroa Way and Adams in South Los Angeles,” Los Angeles Metro said in a statement to USA TODAY. “The operator stopped the bus to allow the arguing passengers to exit.”

The argument continued and someone was stabbed on the sidewalk, Metro said. Both LAPD and the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene. Updated information on the victim's status was not immediately available.

In addition to attacks on bus operators, there have been incidents involving patrons near bus stations, and even one on a train.

Metro said in a Facebook announcement that the transportation agency will put up barriers for Metro bus drivers. Between 2019 and 2023, yearly attacks on bus drivers have increased from 92 to 160. 

“Attacks have continued this year,” Metro said in the statement. "This is unacceptable.”

Video shows new protective barriers

Robert Gummer is Los Angeles Metro's Deputy Chief of System Security and Law Enforcement and said the transportation agency secured an emergency procurement to get barriers made of tempered glass to protect bus operators. That allows Metro to look for vendors to make the barriers and get them installed in a shorter period of time.

"Normally, that process would take several years," he told USA TODAY Monday afternoon. "That's what that emergency request was, but it's not a public state of emergency."

Some of the buses have the new barriers and more will be fully installed by the end of the year, Gummer said.

Seen in a video Metro shared with their new barrier announcement, the barriers have windows made of tempered glass and doors that allow drivers to see passengers as they enter and exit the vehicle while remaining separated from the general population.

The new barriers are also larger, Metro said, adding that law enforcement will also ride the buses, as well as Transit Security Officers and Metro Ambassadors.

Attack on Metro train last week left one woman dead

In addition to incidents on Metro buses, there have also been reports of attacks on the agency's trains.

A woman was fatally stabbed on April 22 while on a Metro train, LAPD said in a news release.

Someone called the police about an assault with a deadly weapon. The woman got off the train at Metro’s Universal City Station and the man fled the area on foot, police said.

Metro contract security tended to the woman until the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived and took her to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

A 45-year-old man was arrested in connection to the woman’s death. He was charged with murder and is being held on $2 million bail. Investigators think there may be other victims who were attacked by the man, the release said.

Crime has increased partially due to more enforcement, Metro says

Gummer, from Metro, said the agency has been implementing a multilayered strategy since last year to increase safety on buses and trains. The agency has taken on a "human-centered, care-based" approach looking at what riders need to feel safe.

That includes traditional law enforcement officers who ride the trains and are sitting at platforms. There are also transit security officers who enforce Metro's code of conduct and ambassadors or "friendly faces" helping people navigate the Metro system.

"(Ambassadors) also are eyes and ears as well if they notice anything that could impact customer experience," he said. "That could be broken escalators, an elevator is not working properly or there could be vandalism that they're noticing ... They'll notify security. Somebody can go out there and address that."

Other parts of Metro's strategy include homeless outreach teams that connect people exiting homelessness find resources, as well as crime intervention teams and contract security resources.

According to statistics from Metro, there was a systemwide crime increase in 2023 but it was the direct result of Metro’s multilayered public safety approach, a spokesperson for the transit system said. There were increased arrests for serious crimes such as drug use and trespassing.

Gummer said crimes against people are actually decreasing month-to-month.

According to Metro, drug use and trespassing crimes made up nearly 42% of all crimes committed in 2023. 

"These statistics demonstrate that we are being more vigilant in our efforts to address crime and that our multilayered safety plan is having a positive impact on helping ensure the safety and security of our transit customers," the agency said.

Metro also said there was a nearly 10% decrease in crimes against people systemwide from February 2023 to February 2024. 

Board of Supervisors member says safety should be a ‘basic guarantee’ amid attacks

Janice Hahn, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, tweeted last Thursday that she has asked for a report on options to prevent people from bringing weapons on the Metro system. She said she also co-authored a motion to make station fare gates more secure.

“Safety should be a basic guarantee for our Metro riders and bus drivers,” she tweeted.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or email her atsdmartin@usatoday.com.