A man was stabbed in the neck while waiting for a train at the downtown Riverside Metrolink station Sunday, in what police called a “random” attack.
The victim — who’s name was being withheld — was taken to a hospital, underwent surgery and was in critical but stable condition, Riverside city police Officer Ryan Railsback said.
The attack was at about 8:15 a.m. at the Metrolink station, at 4066 Vine St. It remained partially closed as of 2 p.m., due to the police investigation.
The man — believed to be in his late 60s or early 70s — was standing on the platform with one other person when they were confronted by the suspect, according to Railsback.
After a brief exchange, the suspect stabbed the man once in the neck with a knife, and ran north along the tracks, Railsback said.
The friend accompanying the man on the platform took him back to the car in which they arrived, where another friend had been waiting, and attempted to stanch the blood flow before paramedics arrived and took the man to a hospital.
Police described the suspect at large as a black man, 25 to 30 years old and possibly a transient. He has dreadlock-style hair and was wearing a red shirt and blue jeans.
Railsback said investigators don’t believe the suspect and the victim knew each other.
A bloodhound from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department was deployed to the station to aid with the manhunt, according to Railsback.
Two Metrolink trains with scheduled stops in downtown Riverside, 753 and 859, bypassed the station and buses took them to their destination.
Two more trains coming from Union Station in Los Angeles with final stops in downtown Riverside were routed to the other side of the platform and weren’t affected by the investigation, Railsback said.
The station will fully reopen on Monday, he said.
Metrolink said any passengers who took alternative transportation due to the disruption could be eligible for up to a $50 reimbursement, and could visit metrolinktrains.com/qsp for more information.