Man stabbed to death during fight on METRORail in downtown Houston, police say

HOUSTON – A man is dead and a suspect has been arrested after a deadly stabbing on the METRORail in downtown Houston on Monday, police said.

Officers with the Houston and METRO Police Departments responded to reports of a stabbing at 1150 Rusk St. around 8 p.m.

Police said when they arrived at the scene, they located a man sitting on a bench right outside the rail car. Another man was found unresponsive inside the rail car with apparent stab wounds, HPD said.

Chief Vera Bumpers of the Metro Police Department said witnesses told officers the altercation began on the platform of another rail stop.

“The one individual had a screwdriver and the other individual had a knife,” Chief Bumpers said. “From what we were told, the argument started prior to them boarding the light rail vehicle and it continued after they boarded.”

Bumpers said the man with the screwdriver swung it at the man with the knife, which lead to the fatal stabbing. She said the incident was isolated and did not involve other riders.

“We understand when tragedies like this happen it affects the families and definitely puts people on edge, but we want to reassure people that our system is safe,” she said. “We want to remind people where you see yourself in an altercation with somebody it’s very important you allow the police to intervene.”

Houston Fire Department paramedics transported the victim to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The 60-year-old suspect was taken into custody and interviewed by HPD homicide detectives, police said.

Police said the case will be referred to a Harris County grand jury.

The identity of the suspect is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.