A late-night Valley Metro light rail trip in Tempe turned violent Thursday when a rider was stabbed on board, sending the victim to the hospital and kicking off a search for the attacker. The incident happened on a train near Apache Boulevard and Smith Road and left commuters rattled during the evening hours. Tempe police said the injured person was taken to a hospital and that the investigation is ongoing.
Police: Suspect Fled Before Officers Arrived
Tempe police told reporters they responded to the area around 9:40 p.m. and found the suspect had already left the scene, according to KTAR. The injured rider was taken to a hospital and listed in stable condition, and officers said the suspect remained at large Friday morning. Officials have not released a description of the suspect as the probe continues.
Where It Happened
The stabbing occurred on or near the Smith–Martin/Apache Boulevard stop, an at-grade A Line platform located in the median of Apache Boulevard just west of the Loop 101. The stop serves Tempe riders and sits adjacent to nearby businesses and housing developments, according to Wikipedia.
Investigators And Transit Officials
Local outlets reported the call to police came late Thursday and that authorities have not released a suspect description, according to ABC15. Arizona's Family said it had reached out to Valley Metro for comment and that investigators were working to determine what led up to the attack. Tempe police said the investigation is active and urged anyone with information to contact detectives.
How To Help
Anyone with tips or video that might help identify the suspect is asked to contact Tempe police, officials said. The department has not released a public description of the suspect as detectives follow leads, according to ABC15. We will update this story as police release further details.
