Kansas City police are seeking the public's help to identify two men who beat and stabbed a 52-year-old Metro bus driver Saturday night after a fare dispute.
The victim suffered stab wounds in his abdomen and back in the 9:15 p.m. attack. He is at home recovering, police said. He has been a driver for seven years.
Police released two images of the suspects Wednesday, but said they could not release the videotape of the incident because it was too graphic.
Detective Jeff Littlejohn gave this account:
The attackers boarded the bus near 31st Street and Askew Avenue, but didn't pay their fares. The men also cursed the driver for being late.
Someone on the bus offered to pay the fares to smooth over the dispute. The men sat down, but continued to curse and harass the driver.
The driver then pulled over and told the men to get off the bus. When they refused, he tried to put his hands on them to escort them off the bus. That's when they attacked him, by repeatedly punching and kicking him. One of the men, in a blue T-shirt, tried to stab him three times.