Metro has filed a cross-complaint against the accused killer of a 23-year-old passenger who was stalked and stabbed without provocation aboard a Metro B (Red) Line train in downtown Los Angeles in 2023.
The attack occurred at 5:20 p.m. Sept. 7, 2023, when Randy Lamale Nash allegedly approached Jesse Michael Rodriguez, pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the chest, the Los Angeles Police Department previously stated.
The underlying Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit was brought against Metro and the city of Los Angeles on Sept. 19 by Rodriguez’s mother, 72-year-old Katherine M. Rodriguez, and Edward Quezada, who adopted Jesse Rodriguez at age 2.
Metro’s cross-complaint, brought Monday, denies any liability in Rodriguez’s death. But the agency also states that if it is found responsible, it is entitled to full indemnification from Nash as well as still-unidentified defendants who may be named later. Metro also is seeking a declaration of the rights and responsibilities of the parties.
Rodriguez died at a hospital after the stabbing. Nash is charged with murder, but is not a defendant in the civil suit.
The Rodriguez family suit alleges Metro and the city of Los Angeles were no longer enforcing loitering laws at many Metro stations, including the Pershing Square station where the stabbing occurred. The practice encouraged transients and the mentally ill to loiter or stay for long periods at the stations and allowed them to intimidate passengers, the suit alleges.
The suit faults the city and Metro for allegedly not having enough security officers and surveillance cameras on platforms as well as more personnel in passenger cars.
Money originally allocated for more security on Metro was diverted to allow the hiring of transit ambassadors who are not sufficiently trained in law enforcement, the suit states.