CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – One person was seriously injured after a stabbing on the blue line on Friday evening in northeast Charlotte.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said on Friday, Dec. 5, around 4:50 p.m., they responded to a stabbing near the light rail station on 25th Street and North Brevard Street.
When Medic arrived, they found one person with stab wounds and they were taken to a hospital with serious injuries.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police identified the suspect as Oscar Solarzano, 33. Solarzano was arrested by officers shortly after the stabbing happened. He is charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon serious injury, break/enter motor vehicle, carrying a concealed weapon and intoxicated and disruptive.
In court records from Solarzano’s release hearing, a magistrate noted Solarzano is “an illegal and has been deported previously.” Solarzano has not been released from jail.
Court documents also show Solarzano’s address is 945 S. College St., the listed address for Roof Above Day Services.
A CATS spokesperson told WBTV it is looking into Solarzano’s history with CATS security and private security.
Due to the quick action of CMPD, together with CATS security, the suspect was apprehended nearby and taken into custody Friday evening.
Currently the investigation into this incident continues by CMPD. It does not appear this was a random act of violence, but an altercation between two individuals that escalated. Our safety & security team continues to work alongside our partners at CMPD to provide all available information to assist in the investigation.
CATS Interim CEO Brent Cagle issued a statement about the stabbing Saturday evening:
“We are disappointed that a verbal altercation escalated to the point of a stabbing incident on a Blue Line train Friday evening. Through close collaboration between CATS private security team (PSS) and CMPD, a suspect was apprehended swiftly following the incident. Since August, CATS, together with our partners, have taken a proactive and robust approach to keep employees and passengers as safe as possible by deploying additional off-duty CMPD officers, private security personnel, new technology and safety reporting tools. Violence has no place in our community, including on public transit. Individuals who believe public transit can be used as an area to settle grievances through violent altercations are not welcome on our system. We will continue to work with our partners at CMPD as well as our private security team to ensure everyone rides appropriately on public transit. We will not compromise on the safety of our customers and employees.”
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein confirmed the stabbing was on the light rail and released the following on X.
“I just spoke with Chief Patterson about the horrific stabbing on the light rail this evening. Please join me in praying for the full recovery of the victim. I am pleased that Chief Patterson was already surging law enforcement throughout Charlotte with Operation Safe Season, and I am grateful to the state law enforcement agencies that are assisting the operation. Public safety is a top priority for us all.”
The Blue Line is the same light rail in Charlotte where a high-profile stabbing took place in August this year. On Aug. 22, Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was stabbed to death in the South End area.
Lauren Newton, the attorney for Iryna Zarutska’s family, released the following about Friday’s stabbing:
The fact that there was another stabbing on the light rail committed by someone who had apparently been banned continues to show that there is no fare enforcement on our light rail system. Clearly security is still lacking to protect our citizen riders of our public transportation.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles reacted to the stabbing Saturday evening:
Everyone deserves to be and feel safe in our city, and there is no room for violence in our community. We have invested heavily in increasing security on our transit system and CMPD has been proactive in increasing its presence across our city, including announcing a new multi-agency effort this week. There are several aspects of public safety that are outside of the city’s jurisdiction, including immigration policy and enforcement, but we will continue to focus on public safety and ensuring a safe and vibrant community.
Hallie Pister is a resident in the area and says that murder changed her habits.
“I’m like actually physically shaking right now. I cannot believe this has happened again. I cannot allow this to stop me from living my life and using the train,” Pister said. “I always stand, I’m not on my phone, I’ve got pepper spray on me and this is just continuing to reinforce the feeling that I can’t let my guard down on the train.”
Now, she wants to see more officers on the light rail at night.
Read more –> Light rail stabbing: Graphic video shows moments before, after woman killed in Charlotte
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