A man died Wednesday morning after being stabbed near an Albuquerque city bus, leading to the detention of the bus driver.
Albuquerque police responded around 6:30 a.m. to reports of a bus driver stabbing a man outside a bus. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he later died.
Police said the bus driver was involved in an altercation outside the bus with a passenger. The driver then followed the rider near the Chevron at Coors and Iliff NW.
Mayor Tim Keller issued a statement acknowledging the “terrible personal altercation that escalated into a tragic loss of life involving a transit employee.”
“Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this loss of life, first and foremost the family of the deceased, the transit safety responders and also the bystanders who tried to help and were simply going about their morning commute,” Keller said.
Keller confirmed that the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) is conducting a criminal investigation, and the Transit Department has initiated an internal review of the employee’s actions. City Human Resources is cooperating with law enforcement and is committed to transparency and accountability, according to Keller.
ABQ RIDE also released a statement expressing deep sadness over the tragedy and offering sympathies to the victim’s family.
“ABQ RIDE is deeply saddened by the tragedy outside of a City bus that led to a loss of life. Our deepest sympathies are with the victim’s family,” the statement said. “It is unconscionable that during an ordinary Wednesday morning commute with folks heading to work and morning engagements, that a personal conflict became a traumatic experience that no one should have to witness. Our team appreciates the bystanders who used the See Say app to report the incident, which allowed for a quick response from public safety officers. ABQ RIDE’s commitment to and investment in transit safety protocol remains steadfast.”
Due to the incident, a bus detour is in effect on Route 155 southbound Coors, with a road closure between Iliff and Hanover. Detour information is available on the Transit app and ABQRIDE.com.
