Newly obtained footage appears to show a man throwing a woman into oncoming traffic in what officials have described as a random attack at a Pasadena Metro station.
The woman reportedly sustained injuries to her head and face, including a broken nose, and was hospitalized. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said her injuries have “potential for long-term disfigurement.”
KTLA, a local news outlet, obtained the footage which was broadcast on August 19. It purportedly depicts the attack, which occurred in the early hours of the morning August 7.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced on August 12 that Juan Pablo Flores, 33, was arrested in connection with the incident.
Flores has been charged with one count of attempted murder and one count of mayhem, two felonies, and is being held on $2 million bail, the DA’s statement reports.
Authorities said they don’t believe the victim and suspect knew each other.
Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press
In a statement, L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón said, “No one should have to endure such brutality, and everyone deserves to go about their day without fear for their safety. We will not tolerate violence on our transit system and will continue holding those responsible fully accountable for their actions.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor and Chair of the Metro Board of Directors Janice Hahn also condemned the incident, and called for better security measures at metro stations.
She wrote in a statement on August 7, “I am grateful that the victim is recovering and that the suspect is in custody. Our board will need a full investigation into this incident, an accounting of where both Metro’s contracted law enforcement and transit security were when this woman was attacked, and a plan to increase security during early morning commuting hours. Our trains, buses, and stations must be safe for our riders and we have to continue to implement safety reforms to get our system to that point.”
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger also issued a statement and said, “Our Metro Board has already taken some steps to improve public safety, including enforcing fares. But, it’s obvious to me that our Metro system commuters are still confronted with serious safety issues that cannot be ignored.”
If Flores is convicted, he will face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
In July, CBS News reported that violent crime in on public transportation in Los Angeles increased by 33 percent over the past year, and of those crimes, mostly on trains, although there was one violent crime for 300,000 bus riders.
Newsweek reached out to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for comment via a form on their website.
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
