What should have been a quiet ride home on the Red Line turned into a nightmare for Jeffrey Vargas, who says he woke up on a Cinco de Mayo train between Dupont Circle and Shady Grove to find a stranger attacking him. By the time it was over, Vargas says he was bloodied, with multiple head wounds that later needed staples, and his attacker had vanished into the night. Cell phone video Vargas recorded afterward shows blood smeared across his face, hands and shirt.
Rider’s Account And Aftermath Video
Speaking with FOX 5 DC, Vargas said he had dozed off on the Red Line train when he suddenly woke up to someone hitting him. He told the station the blows left three large lacerations on his scalp that required staples. “The guy could have had a knife, a weapon, he could have done anything to me,” Vargas said in the interview, describing how quickly the situation escalated. The FOX 5 DC report includes Vargas’ own video of the aftermath and notes that the assailant ran out of the railcar before Vargas could get a clear look or identify them.
How Riders Can Reach Metro Transit Police
Metro riders who witnessed the attack or who captured it on camera are being urged to share what they know with investigators. According to WMATA, customers can call Metro Transit Police at (202) 962-2121 or text tips to MyMTPD at 696873. The agency’s “How do I” page also walks riders through how to file police reports and how to request copies of existing reports, in case anyone needs to document what they saw or recorded.
Investigation, Cameras And Safety Concerns
Investigators confirmed to FOX 5 DC that the incident is under review. Vargas told the station that police informed him the train car involved was an older model that does not have onboard security cameras. That lack of footage, he said, could make it harder to track down whoever attacked him, as officers work their leads and look for witnesses. For regulars on the Red Line, the incident lands as yet another unsettling reminder that safety on Metro is an ongoing concern for both riders and transit officials, even on what should be a routine trip home.
