Fatal Shooting on Public Transport Increases Concern Over Safety

Crime on public transit, including buses and trains, has seen a rising trend in recent months, despite overall numbers remaining lower than previous years. The latest incident occurred on Friday night when a man was shot dead onboard a Green Line train as it approached the Hamline Avenue Station.

According to Metro Transit police, the incident happened at around 8:30 p.m. near the intersection of University Avenue West and Hamline Avenue North. The victim later died at the hospital, marking the agency's second homicide of the year so far.

Police reported that this was the second shooting onboard a Green Line train in just over a week, following another incident on November 21. No arrests have been made related to Friday's fatal shooting as of release.

Founder and CEO of We Push For Peace, Tray Pollard, expressed disappointment and frustration with the lack of progress towards improving safety on public transit. He pointed out that his organization, which worked extensively with Metro Transit on security measures, faced a sudden end due to a lack of funding.

"We Push For Peace started riding the Green and Blue Lines daily in January and spent over 2,000 hours on outreach work," Pollard stated. "We helped connect several people to housing and addiction recovery services, but our team's work ended abruptly due to the expiration of one-time state funding."

Metro Transit data for Q3 showed a rise in crime on trains and buses by 6.7% compared to last summer, despite an overall decrease by 8.4% in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

In response to the incident, Metro Transit officials emphasized that they are committed to sustaining their community outreach program without interruption next year and aim to secure additional funding for continued security initiatives. However, a spokesperson said future opportunities for external funding were still under evaluation.

As public transport incidents continue to escalate, concerns over safety on these platforms remain paramount. The tragic incident of Friday highlights the urgency in addressing crime on public transit and implementing effective measures to ensure riders feel secure while traveling.

The Minnesota Crime Prevention Association noted that rising crime rates and unsolved incidents need swift and sustained responses from authorities to reassure citizens using public transportation.