Four Hurt in Light Rail Violence

Four people were injured in two late-night incidents of violence at the Patapsco light rail station over the weekend, according to Baltimore County Police.

At around 11:24 p.m. on Friday, a 21-year-old man was attacked by a mob of juveniles who rode the light rail with him to the stop on the 700-block of West Patapsco Avenue, police said.

While the man was walking from the light rail to the bus, he was assaulted by a group of 20-30 teenagers who knocked him to the ground with punches and kicks. The victim's head was stomped upon, according to police.

The victim's cell phone and an undetermined amount of money was taken, and the group fled across West Patapsco into Baltimore City.

The victim, whose identity is not being released by the police, was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma center with serious injuries, according to police spokesperson Det. Cathy Batton.

At around 11:53 p.m. on Saturday, two men were confronted by a group of about ten teenagers while walking toward the bus stop at the Patapsco station, police said.

Both men were stabbed multiple times by a suspect described as a black male, 16-17 years old, who wore a white and blue striped shirt and blue jeans. Cell phones, a bus pass, sneakers and $4 in cash were taken from the victims, according to police.

One victim, a 27-year-old man, suffered a laceration to the shoulder and was transported from the light rail station by ambulance to Shock Trauma, police said.

Unaware that he had been stabbed in the chest, the second victim, a 19-year-old man, entered an MTA bus and rode as far as Washington Boulevard and Selma Avenue. The victim walked into Baltimore County Fire Department Station 5 for emergency care and was transported by ambulance to Shock Trauma, according to police.

A third victim, a 45-year-old man who tried to intervene and prevent the robbery at the light rail station, was punched and knocked to the ground, but did not need medical care.

After attacking and robbing their victims, the group fled on foot across West Patapsco into Baltimore City.

Baltimore County police are investigating both incidents.

"MTA police are cooperating fully with Baltimore County police and will do anything to help locate and prosecute the individuals responsible for these incidents," said Maryland Transit Administration spokesperson Terry Owens.

The Patapsco station is not covered by security video, he said.

MTA police will be increasing their presence in the aftermath of the incidents. "We will be stepping up our patrols in that area," Owens said.

Crime associated with the light rail system has been an issue in the past. In February, two Baltimore Highlands teenagers severely beat and robbed a 59-year-old man near the Linthicum light rail station, according to police reports.

Although officials could not prove the perpetrators took the light rail, on June 22, 19-year-old Dana Patrick West, Jr., was sentenced to ten years in prison and five years of probation, and ordered to stay away from light rail stations, the Baltimore Sun reported.

Owens said that the light rail system has a good safety record for a 30-mile system with 33 stations that serves thousands of riders every day.

"Overall, our light rail system has a great safety record," he said.