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A man is being questioned in connection to the murder of a B46 bus driver yesterday afternoon in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The driver, Edwin Thomas, was fatally stabbed by a passenger over an argument about a transfer. 1010 WINS reports, "A tip led police to the [28-year-old] man, an alleged drug dealer, who was taken into custody at a friend's house in East New York." He is being questioned at the 81st Precinct.
Witnesses say that Thomas allowed the suspect onto the bus, even though the suspect "swip[ed] his invalid Metrocard several times in vain," according to the Daily News. Then the suspect harassed Thomas, a NYC Transit bus driver for the past seven years, for a transfer. From the Daily News:
"You didn't even pay. Why should I give you a transfer?" Thomas tried to reason with the passenger.Two people tried to chase the suspect, but lost him after a few blocks. The NY Times says that while many buses have surveillance cameras, Thomas's bus did not, "but detectives said they would remove the bus’s doors and examine them and areas around the driver’s seat for fingerprints."Enraged, the suspect punched the 5-foot-6 Thomas in the head, witnesses said. Thomas pulled over at Malcolm X Blvd. and Gates Ave. and the attacker jumped off the bus, but then forced his way back on before the doors fully closed.
A 66-year-old passenger who regularly rode Thomas' bus said the killer then pulled a knife and plunged it into the driver's chest.
The last time a bus driver was killed was in 1981. Mayor Bloomberg said, "Edwin Thomas was a good man who was good at his job of helping move New York City. An attack like this is so shocking because it has become so rare in our city." Thomas leaves behind two children; his 18-year-old son Jeffrey Jupiter told the Post that his father "loved his job. He never missed a day's work... My dad died for $2."
The NYPD, MTA, and Transport Workers Union each offered $12,000 rewards, for a total of $36,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Thomas's murderer. MTA CEO and Executive Director Elliot Sander said, "Our men and women are dealing with the public everyday. I think this is a situation that we can only describe at this point as random. I'm not sure that anything more could have been done."
Photograph from 1010 WINS
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Thoughts go out to the family of Edwin Thomas. We can only hope that Justice is served after such a horrible act. What a sad, pointless waste of a valuable human life.
Where's Al Sharpton?
We should let every bus driver stab this piece of shit with a box cutter.
I hope they catch this animal.
I'm adding hoodies to my list of stuff to watch out for.
Any description of the perp?
Crucify this asshole upside down.
the death penalty was made for guys like this.
This is what happens when anarchy rules. If the MTA knew that that the bus line has fare evaders all day long and did nothing to curb it, then they have to be held responsible. If indeed, it is that bad, then why isn't there a cop on those busses during those troublesome hours. If these events occurred on 5th or Madison Avenue routes in Manhattan, you can bet they would have found a solution quick enough.
Mandatory abortions with IQ test of parents as prerequisite for baby license.
Just run the guy over with a bus and be done with it. What kind of animal kills someone over a bus transfer?
My condolences to Mr. Thomas' children. I think MTA policy is that bus drivers have discretion to let fare evaders onto the bus to avoid violent confrontation. Perhaps having NYPD on some of the more dangerous bus routes would be a good solution.
"I'm not sure that anything more could be done."
Surveillance cameras? Transit cops doing ride alongs on sketchy routes? Arming and training more drivers? I can think of all kinds of things that could be done, but then I'm not an MTA executive who drives his car to work, parks for free, and thinks his drivers are so much meatware.
I'm thinking enclosures for the drivers. Like mini token booths, complete with speaker and microphone. After all, subway motormen are sealed off from their passengers, why aren't bus drivers?
So they are questioning an alleged drug dealer. Hmmm why isn't the alleged drug dealer in jail? The MTA will do nothing about this. They will briefly act somber and then lay off transit workers so they can cut corners.
just heartbreaking. It's a tragedy waiting to happen, it's these neighborhoods. If it isn't unruly teenagers it's this kind of horrific extreme.
Wait, this wasnt a white guy? Shocking.
Yo, that driver was asking for it. He dissed the brother in front of a bus full of people.
give bullet proof vests for any Harlem, South Bronx or Bed Stuy routes
MTA CEO and Executive Director Elliot Sander said, "I'm not sure that anything more could have been done." Of course something else can be done ... arm the drivers. With proper training and responsible mind-set, criminals can be stopped from harming citizens. Our eyes are on the front of our faces, not the sides of our heads like sheep. Your Mayor Bloomberg and other elitist anti-gun types have well-armed bodyguards ... why can't New Yorkers be protected as well?