TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Buses will remain free in Tucson even with a hole in the budget and a rising concern about public safety.
Multiple incidents of violent crime have happened at or near Sun Tran bus stops in the last few months alone.
- On April 5, 25-year-old Daniel Michael Jr. allegedly attacked a man and woman with a hatchet at a streetcar stop in downtown Tucson. Jacob Couch died from his injuries from the attack, and Michael was charged with murder.
- On May 12, 42-year-old Frank Rick Lopez allegedly attacked two people with a hatchet at a bus stop near Sabino Canyon and Tanque Verde Roads.
- On July 9, a 15-year-old woman was arrested after a 19-year-old woman was injured during a knife fight on a bus at the Ronstadt Center.
In a statement to 13 News regarding recent incidents, Sun Tran said, “Incidents across our system, whether at bus stops, transit centers, or on board, remain extremely rare, occurring in less than 1% of all service interactions…We are deeply aware that recent events have raised concerns and challenged public trust. We take these matters seriously.”
13 News talked with the Tucson Police Department, which said that despite the high-profile attacks, the numbers tell a different story…