Arrest made after man stabbed to death aboard MTA bus in the Bronx
NEW YORK - There are new developments in the gruesome stabbing of a Bronx father who was killed on a bus in the Bronx Sunday night.
Just hours ago, police said they've made an arrest of one suspect.
"We have moved this from the trains, now you're trying to tell me this is happening on the buses," one commuter said.
As CBS2's Elijah Westbrook reports, it seems these days it doesn't matter if you're riding the subway or bus in New York, you may encounter some sort of violence.
"I mean, here we go again. I'm talking from the bottom of my heart now," the commuter said.
"That guy did not deserve that," said neighbor Jimmy Pugh. "He was a nice guy. He didn't bother anyone, never seen any problems from him. He was a family person."
Pugh lives down the hall from Barkley and says recently Barkley's family endured another tragedy. Coupled with this, it means his three children now have no parents.
"His wife just passed away, not long ago," Pugh said.
Neighbors of 55-year-old Lamont Barkley are in utter disbelief. The father of three was stabbed to death on the BX-19 bus in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx Sunday night.
"He used to do security in the building," said Barkley's neighbor Willie Pope. "He's a good friend. You know, would go to work, come home, bring food for the kids."
It happened on 149th Street and Gerard Avenue. Police say a man and a woman got into a fight with Barkley on the bus. Detectives say the man stabbed Barkley multiple times. He and the female accomplice ran off.
"It's appalling and it makes people feel unsafe on the subways, the buses," said commuter Alexander Knott.
Police say 42-year-old Ebony Jackson is now behind bars in connection with the stabbing death of Barkley. She's being hit with murder and manslaughter charges. The other suspect is still on the run.
The incident comes as authorities try to crack down on transit crime. The NYPD says transit crime is up 41.6% compared to this time last year.
Last Thursday, three people were stabbed in separate subway attacks. Only one person has been arrested so far. Over the weekend, there were several more attacks on the subway, including a teenager getting jumped by six men and stabbed on a northbound 6 train on 53rd Street.
Monday morning, just after 2 a.m., police say a 49-year-old woman was struck in the head by an object thrown by a man. It happened on 125th Street and Lenox Avenue on a northbound 2 train. They're calling it an unprovoked attack, and say the suspect is still on the run.
"it scares me, it really scares me. You hear on the news, always something going on, going on. We need to be more secure."
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
