The Monday evening commute through East Boston turned tense when a 26-year-old man allegedly pulled a handgun on another passenger aboard an MBTA bus, police said. The man is accused of drawing a .40-caliber Beretta from his waistband and pointing it at a fellow rider as the bus traveled along Meriden Street around 6 p.m. Transit officers intercepted the bus, removed the suspect and arrested him at the scene, according to officials.
Transit police posted a brief update
MBTA Transit Police laid out the basics in a short post on X, saying the suspect “removed it from his waistband & threatened another passenger,” before officers moved in, placed him in custody and transported him to Transit Police District headquarters for booking. You can read the post on X.
Arrest, booking and prior record
According to Boston.com, police identified the suspect as 26 and said he has a prior conviction for illegal possession of a firearm. Investigators did not immediately share any possible motive for the alleged threat, and arraignment details were not available at the time of publication, the outlet reported.
A pattern on the T
The incident fits into a troubling pattern of threats and assaults on MBTA vehicles and operators in recent years, a trend that has fueled calls for stronger protections for both drivers and riders. In one 2025 East Boston case detailed by The Boston Globe, a 15-year-old was charged after a confrontation with an MBTA bus driver, and police said they recovered a loaded 9mm handgun from a backpack. Carmen’s Union Local 589 pointed to that episode as another example of why they argue the system needs tougher safety measures.
What riders should know
Transit officials urge riders to report threats, weapons or suspicious behavior as soon as they see it. MBTA Transit Police respond to calls from buses and trains and coordinate with local police when necessary. Recent local coverage has highlighted a steady run of incidents involving assaults on drivers and weapons discovered during arrests, pressure that has helped fuel union demands for more enforcement and added operator protections, as noted in reporting by CBS Boston.
Legal note…