Metro riders concerned for safety, want more security, after 3 stabbings occur within 1 week

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Many Metro riders are concerned for their safety and are calling for more security after three separate stabbings have taken place on the mass transit system within one week.

Last Thursday, two people were stabbed in separate incidents just hours apart from each other on the Red Line, and then a third person was stabbed on the Metro Blue Line in Long Beach on Wednesday.

In Long Beach, police say investigators determined that the victim boarded the Metro train in an undisclosed area outside of Long Beach. At some point after the train entered Long Beach, three male suspects boarded the train and immediately approached the victim and physically assaulted him, police said. During the attack, one of the suspects pull out a knife and stabbed the victim multiple times, according to police.

The suspects fled the scene on foot near First Street and Pine Avenue, police said.

One Metro rider said the increase in crime is due to the number of people with severe mental problems who ride the Metro.

"Well, there's people on the Metro who are homeless and they have mental illness," said Garritt Koeksh, a Metro rider. "I'm homeless as well, and I have mental illness too, but I've been attacked on the Metro several times."

"We are addressing the unhoused on our system. We have our PATH homeless outreach, as well as a relationship with the department of mental health, and we have our crisis teams that are going out," said Gina Osborn, Metro's chief safety officer. "Not only are they assisting these folks, but they're also offering services for them."

The rise in violent crime is sparking fear among those who depend on mass transit to get around.

"Our system is safe. However, we do recognize that we have challenges for us and we are addressing those challenges," Osborn said.

Metro officials have said that violent crime, such as assaults and robberies, was up 24% last year compared to what the numbers looked like in 2021. Even more disturbing, Metro officials said there have been 21 deaths system-wide so far this year, already equaling the number of deaths throughout the system for all of last year.

"One time, I was sitting there reading a book and somebody just swatted at me for no reason at all," said Koeksh. "So, you do not feel safe? No, not really, I carry things to protect myself."

Increasing ridership could be a factor in the uptick in violent crime. Ridership doubled following the pandemic, from 10 million in 2020 to 21 million this year. Yet, ridership is still not matching pre-pandemic levels.

Another Metro rider, Jose Mota, also said the Metro does not have enough security to deal with the homeless people who are making the system dangerous.

"So, what's been going on after Covid, there hasn't been enough security on the Metro," said Mota. "What's been going on is that there are many homeless people on the subway where they are drugged, taking up multiple seats. About two weeks ago, a gentleman had his cell phone stolen from his hand."

Riders who spoke to Eyewitness News said they want security increased two-fold, both at the stations and on the trains.