A horrifying video shows a gunman randomly attacking a woman in a Los Angeles-area subway station, punching, and stomping on her before nearly throwing her into freeway traffic.
Gruesome footage of the August 7 attack in Pasadena shows the victim being repeatedly pulled into the carpool lane of busy Interstate 210 by speeding cars and nearly being run over while trying to fight off the attacker.
In the recently released footage obtained by KTLA, the attacker can be seen hitting and kicking the woman on the side of the highway shortly before 5:30 a.m., repeatedly turning around to push her back to the ground – at one point he even lifts her up and hurls her just inches away from oncoming, fast-moving traffic.
Investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department believe the attack by Juan Pablo near the Allen subway station was random.
Pablo, 33, who was arrested shortly after the attack, has been charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office with attempted murder and aggravated assault.
The victim may now be suffering from “long-term disfigurement” and was recently hospitalized again after some of her injuries became infected, KTLA reported.
In addition to the new infections, the victim suffered multiple broken bones, severe bruises and deep cuts that required stitches, according to the sheriff’s department.
The video of the shocking attack, now widely shared on social media, has caused unrest among some train passengers like Nandi Hughes.
Hughes, a young mother who relies on the train to get to her job as a home care worker, says she feels safe most of the time, but travelling alone by train at night can be “kind of tricky”.
The attack left Hughes “concerned” and he added: “That’s why I’m trying to hurry up and save up so I can buy a car so I and my kids can get off the train.”
Another commuter, Dana Terrance, told the station she felt “safe enough” riding the train.
“I don’t have a car, so this is my only means of transportation,” she explained. “I don’t take the subway after 10 p.m.”
Local politicians are working to improve safety measures on Los Angeles’ public transportation system and are exploring the possibility of the metro establishing its own police force.
Pablo is being held on $2,000,000 bail and faces life in prison if convicted.
