WILMINGTON, CA – A manhunt is underway in Wilmington, California, where officials are seeking the identity of an individual believed to have assaulted a Metro bus driver over the weekend. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reports that the assault took place around 8:30 p.m. last Saturday near 119th Street and Wilmington Avenue. The suspect, 30-year-old Darnell Bray, allegedly punched and stabbed the driver.
The victim detailed to authorities that Bray used a pair of brass knuckles that had a knife attached. This information came from the sheriff’s department itself. Following the incident, Metro issued a statement assuring the public that the bus driver, who has been released from the hospital, is now recuperating at home.
In their statement, Metro conveyed their disappointment regarding the violent act committed against their employee, further linking the incident to the ongoing national crises of drug abuse and untreated mental illness that it appears to have been fueled by.
This act of violence onboard a Metro bus comes on the heels of a similar issue, where an elderly man was stabbed on a separate Metro bus. This earlier incident happened on Sunset Boulevard early on the same Saturday. An arrest has since been made in relation to this case.
Meanwhile, for the recent Wilmington occurrence, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is leading the investigation. Anyone with valuable information is encouraged to contact local law enforcement or call Crime Stoppers directly.