WASHINGTON — A D.C. councilmember is voicing concern after a series of brutal attacks on Metro over the past few weeks.
“If we have roaming groups of youths attacking people, that’s unacceptable and something we have to put to a stop,” Councilmember Jack Evans tells Fox 5.
On New Year’s Day, a 15-year-old boy and two of his friends were riding the train to the mall when they were attacked by a group of eight teenagers, the teen’s mother told Fox 5.
Five days before the New Year attack, a 19-year-old was punched and left lying on the platform at the Pentagon City station. Witnesses took picture of the attacker on their cellphones.
Evans, who represents Ward 2, says that Metro needs to be more forthcoming about providing information about incidents like these.
He also snuffed out any suggestion that there were connections between the incidents and a program that allows students ride the rails for free.
“There is no data that the mayor’s program of allowing students to ride free has any connection to any of the incidents that have taken place,” Evans says.
“It’s irresponsible of Metro [or] anyone else to make that implication without good data.”
Metro has declined to comment on this attack, specifically.
Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier recently announced that police are working with the transit agency to address criminal activity in and around Metro stations.
