Latest news with #CapMetro
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
CapMetro bus drivers scared to go to work after recent deadly stabbing; call for change
The Brief CapMetro bus drivers say they are scared to go to work amid recent deadly stabbing on a bus Bus drivers are now calling on CapMetro to make changes Transit Police Department officers will start patrolling next month AUSTIN, Texas - CapMetro bus drivers are afraid to go to work. They are calling on the transit agency to make changes. They said many have been assaulted and robbed on the job. This comes after a passenger was stabbed to death on a bus just last week. The backstory Police said on May 14, around 6:45 p.m., officers and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to a shoot/stab hotshot call in the 500 block of South Lamar Boulevard. The caller said someone had been stabbed on a CapMetro bus. When officers arrived, they found a victim, later identified as Akshay Gupta, with trauma to his body. He later died from his injuries. The investigation showed the suspect, 31-year-old Deepak Kandel, was sitting next to Gupta on the bus when, without provocation, Kandel stabbed Gupta in the neck. Once the bus stopped, Kandel left the bus with other passengers. Police were able to find Kandel shortly after and arrest him. He admitted to stabbing Gupta because he said Gupta looked like his uncle. Kandel was booked into the Travis County Jail and was charged with murder. What they're saying Bus operators said things happen all the time. "I would say, since COVID, I don't know what's in the water, but it's pretty bad out there. You got a lot of mentally ill people or people that are a little off, and they're riding our buses, and our operators who should be focusing on the safety of operating their buses got to be counselors, got to be therapists," Austin Amalgamated Transit Union President Brent Payne said. "I had an unhoused gentleman come up and try assaulting, try choking me," a CapMetro bus operator told the transit agency's board. "None of us should ever have to come to work in fight or flight mode or survival mode and stressed out wondering if we'll even make it home at the end of our shifts," a 6-year CapMetro bus operator said. "We've had operators quit, saying, I'm not getting paid enough to deal with this kind of temperament," Payne said. Bus operators said they can't necessarily protect themselves. "We're not allowed to carry weapons or pepper spray," Payne said. They said no one else is there to protect them either. "We have been waiting for years for the Metro Police Department. Are they ready for the call to duty?" a bus operator said to the board. The backstory The CapMetro Transit Police Department swore in its first three officers, including Chief Robins, back in August 2024. "Since that time, we have been really doing quite a bit of getting ourselves prepared to deploy officers, specifically putting together policies, procedures, obviously hiring, recruiting, hiring, and doing those types of things, but there's quite a bit of work that goes on in the background when you establish in a police department specifically for the first time," CapMetro Police Chief Eric Robins said. Chief Robins said they have hired an additional nine officers and two sergeants with hopes to have a total of 24 officers by fiscal year 2026. "We're in a competitive market when it comes to law enforcement and hiring officers, but we want to make sure that those officers are the officers that are going to be people-centric, focus on what our missions and our goals and our values are, and working in our system to, obviously, do everything we can to de-escalate situations and to keep our system safe," Chief Robins said. The CapMetro police chief said they plan to start patrolling June 16. The other side "I don't see them being fully staffed for another year or two. At this pace, it's not going to happen any time soon," Payne said. Payne said the direct impact of that is: "Now you're forcing everyday bargaining employee people to be their own security, unfortunately," Payne said. Payne said even if another law enforcement agency responds and someone is arrested, "you can do something to a bus operator and be out that same day, which is one of the problems I struggle with right now." "And they could be back on the bus?" FOX 7 Crime Watch Reporter Meredith Aldis asked Payne. "Back on the bus before you get off your shift," Payne responded. Payne is pushing for House Bill 689 which increases the criminal penalty for certain offenses committed in a vehicle operated by a public transportation system. It still needs a vote from the House and Senate. "We're just people who are trying to go home to our families," Payne said. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Meredith Aldis
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Time of India
Indian stabs another Indian to death in Texas bus
In a shocking incident in Austin, Texas, an -origin entrepreneur was fatally stabbed by a fellow Indian passenger aboard a CapMetro bus. The victim, identified as Akshay Gupta, was 30 years old and reportedly had no prior interaction with the assailant. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The attacker, Deepak Kandel, 31, was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder. The incident occurred on May 14, 2025, around 6:45 p.m. According to the Austin Police Department, Gupta was stabbed in the neck without warning during the bus ride in South Austin. Kandel had been sitting next to Gupta on the bus when he stabbed Gupta in his neck. Police officers and emergency medical services responded to a "Shoot/Stab" call of someone being stabbed on a bus in the evening. "Kandel stabbed Gupta in the neck without provocation," according to police. Emergency responders administered life-saving measures on Gupta, but he was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m., according to a report by the KXAN network. Kandel, who is reported to be homeless, was detained by police shortly after the incident. Authorities have not disclosed a clear motive for the attack, and investigations are ongoing. The case has raised concerns about safety on public transportation and the need for increased security measures. Austin Police identified Deepak Kandel by reviewing CCTV footage from the bus. The footage revealed that after the bus made an emergency stop, Kandel calmly exited the vehicle with other passengers and left the scene on foot. Austin Police Department patrol officers located and detained him shortly thereafter. "Kandel was found less than a mile from where the bus pulled over," according to an arrest affidavit. He reportedly told police that he stabbed Gupta because he looked like his uncle. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Gupta's family and friends have expressed shock and grief over the loss. They described him as a talented and hardworking individual who had recently relocated to the US to pursue career opportunities in the tech industry. A memorial service is planned in Austin to honor his memory. The Austin community has rallied in support of Gupta's family, with local organizations offering assistance and condolences. The incident has also prompted discussions about mental health services and support for homeless individuals in the area.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police arrest, charge man with murder after stabbing fellow passenger on CapMetro bus
Austin police have arrested a man accused of stabbing a fellow CapMetro bus passenger in the neck and killing him Wednesday. APD and Austin-Travis County EMS received a call at 6:45 p.m. from a witness who said a man was stabbed while riding the bus. When police arrived at the 500 block of South Lamar Boulevard, authorities located Akshay Gupta, 30, with trauma to his neck, according to police. Despite life-saving efforts, Gupta died on the scene at 7:30 p.m. Police say witnesses told detectives the suspect, Deepak Kandel, 31, was sitting next to the victim when the suspect stabbed the victim in the neck without provocation. Once the bus was stopped, witnesses said Kandel calmly exited the bus with the other passengers and walked away from the scene, according to police. Authorities said they were able to arrest Kandel shortly thereafter. According to police, Kandel admitted to stabbing Gupta because he resembled his uncle. Kandel has been charged with first degree murder and remains in Travis County Jail. CapMetro has asked anyone needing to retrieve personal items left on the bus as a result of the incident should contact customer service at (512) 474-1200 for have asked anyone with information to contact APD at (512) 974-TIPS or by visiting or calling (512) 472-8477. This case is being investigated as Austin's 25th homicide of 2025. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Man arrested, charged with murder of fellow Austin bus passenger
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man charged with murder for stabbing victim to death on CapMetro bus
The Brief A man was arrested and charged with murder for stabbing another man to death on May 14 APD said the man admitted to stabbing the victim because he said the victim looked like his uncle The man was charged with murder AUSTIN, Texas - A man was arrested and charged with murder for stabbing another man to death on a CapMetro bus on Wednesday night. The backstory Police said on May 14, around 6:45 p.m., officers and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to a shoot/stab hotshot call in the 500 block of South Lamar Boulevard. The caller said someone had been stabbed on a CapMetro bus. When officers arrived, they found a victim, later identified as Akshay Gupta, with trauma to his body. He later died from his injuries. The investigation showed the suspect, 31-year-old Deepak Kandel, was sitting next to Gupta on the bus when, without provocation, Kandel stabbed Gupta in the neck. Once the bus stopped, Kandel left the bus with other passengers. Police were able to find Kandel shortly after and arrest him. He admitted to stabbing Gupta because he said Gupta looked like his uncle. Kandel was booked into the Travis County Jail and was charged with murder. What you can do If anyone needs to get their personal belongings that were left on the CapMetro bus, contact CapMetro customer service at 512-474-1200 for instructions. Anyone with information should contact the Austin Police Department at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest. Local perspective Anthony Vazquez is the owner of Dooby's Smoking Depot, which is near the bus stop. "A gentleman just opened the door and started screaming for help. He was covered in blood, all on his arms, had it all over his shirt, and all he said was, 'I need help, someone's been stabbed on the bus, please call the cops,'" he said. Within minutes, a swarm of first responders showed up. "The biggest thing for me was definitely empathy and feeling remorse for all those people," Vazquez said. CapMetro says they continually evaluate their safety measures. "It was horrific, and it should not have happened. We are doing everything possible to support the passengers who were on board and our bus operator who acted with utmost professionalism during incredibly difficult circumstances," Dottie Watkins, president and CEO of CapMetro, said. "Everyone deserves to be safe and feel safe on CapMetro system, and I'm personally committed to ensuring that they are." "We definitely come to work nervous already. Now we're more nervous and a little bit better prepared," Vazquez said. He says this incident is another reminder to always be careful. "We already get to deal with tons of mental health issues, tons of drug addicts, tons of issues as it is," he said. "It does definitely shed light on just the growing increase in violence in Austin as a whole and that everybody legitimately needs to be fully aware of their surroundings." The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Angela Shen
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Yahoo
Austin police chase: Owner of stolen truck speaks on pursuit
The Brief A chase involving a stolen truck ended with a crash in Austin on May 1 The F-250 crashed into a CapMetro bus in the intersection of 53rd Street and Duval Street 3 people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries The owner of the stolen truck is now asking for help buying a new truck AUSTIN, Texas - There are new details in a police pursuit that involved a stolen vehicle in Austin. Several law enforcement agencies, along with a helicopter, responded to the crash involving a CapMetro bus on May 1. The backstory Rion Bronson contacted FOX 7 Austin after reporting on the stolen truck that was involved in a high-speed chase on Thursday, May 1. "I did not know that a 10,000-pound truck could move like that," said Rion Bronson. "I just saw the dash-cam footage of it sliding in the camera." Bronson operates a handyman business called Picture Perfect Moving and Mounting. "It was 9 a.m. on a Thursday," said Bronson. "I remember vividly because I had a moving job at 11 a.m. So I was getting out thinking, oh, let me go warm up the truck. Well, I guess it was already warmed up because someone took it." FOX 7 Austin obtained dash camera video from a chase involving a stolen white F-250 and state troopers late Thursday morning around 11 a.m. in Central Austin. "I just put AC in it and put about new tires all around," said Bronson. "I'm just seeing him just burn up all those tires." Officials said the truck was able to lose the highway patrol cruisers for a moment until another officer found the pickup. The driver quickly sped off again and crashed into a CapMetro bus at East 53rd Street and Duval Street near Home Slice Pizza. The impact of the crash pushed the bus into another vehicle, causing it to hit a telephone pole. Two people got out of the Ford and started running on foot. "In the same sentence, the officer said it was a high-speed chase, got totaled, and both like this at the time. Both the assailants, they couldn't find them," said Bronson. According to Texas DPS, the investigation is ongoing. The driver of the stolen truck was arrested, but the passenger was not caught. Officers are still working to identify the second suspect and make an arrest. What you can do "If I don't have no truck and tools, I can't work," said Bronson. "I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to, you know, make it through." Bronson's business revolved around having a truck, and now he is unsure what to do. "My truck was a 2001," said Bronson. "So when I called the insurance, I actually had liability insurance, and he told me that they do not cover that." He has already had to cancel several appointments but remains hopeful that he will get back on his feet. "I'm trying to just give it to God and see if maybe the GoFundMe can help me out a little bit," said Bronson. For anyone who wants to donate to help him buy a new truck, here is a link to the GoFundMe. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Katie Pratt and previous coverage
