A 36-year-old Buffalo man is facing an assault charge after he allegedly stabbed someone in the NFTA Metro University Station, which is located on South Campus, last Friday afternoon.
The man allegedly attacked another man with a folding knife during an argument in the station, according to a spokesperson for the Erie County District Attorney’s Office. The victim was taken by ambulance to ECMC for “injuries to his upper chest and lower abdomen.”
Shortly after the stabbing, bloody clothes could be seen on the sidewalk in front of the station’s bus loop.
A UB spokesperson said that University Police (UPD) were ready to assist but were not called in because NFTA Transit Police “quickly” resolved the issue. Neither the alleged perpetrator nor the victim were affiliated with UB.
“We believe there was no threat to the larger university community as the altercation was an isolated one,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Violent crime on the Metro Rail is relatively rare. The last violence offense prosecuted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office occurred in February 2022, according to a list of the DA’s press releases. In that case, a Buffalo man fatally stabbed another Buffalo man in Utica Station.
The alleged perpetrator in last week’s stabbing was released on bail of $10,000 cash or bond. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
An NFTA spokesperson did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Sol Hauser contributed reporting to this story.
Grant Ashley is the editor in chief and can be reached at grant.ashley@ubspectrum.com
Grant Ashley is the editor in chief of The Spectrum. He's also reported for NPR, WBFO, WIVB and The Buffalo News. He enjoys taking long bike rides, baking with his parents’ ingredients and recreating Bob Ross paintings in crayon. He can be found on the platform formerly known as Twitter at @Grantrashley.
Photo: Breadchastick / Wikimedia Commons
