Suspect sought in violent robbery on Metro train

WASHINGTON - Metro Transit Police are searching for several people accused of attacking and robbing a teenager and a Good Samaritan on a Green Line train last month.

The violent robbery happened on November 22 at around 1:16 a.m., police say.

According to the police report, a witness described a person with a disorderly group of teenagers on the train robbing a 14-year-old boy of his iPhone.

There were two men on the train and one of them attempted to step in to help. However, he says the suspect turned on him by punching and kicking him in the head, ribs, knees and shin.

Another man on the train ran over to the emergency call button. According to the Washington Blade, he called for help at the Fort Totten station. But it wasn't until the Shaw-Howard U station four stops later on the line that police met up with the train.

Each Metro train has emergency call buttons and they will put you on an intercom with the train operator.

Metro spokesperson Dan Stessel said in this incident, the operator called the control center and the control center then contacted police. He said officers arrived within less than five minutes of being dispatched.

According to the Washington Blade, each time the train stopped at a new station, the platforms were essentially empty so there was no one to go to for help.

More than $700 worth of items was stolen from the teenage victim and the Good Samaritan. The man was also taken to the hospital for his injuries.

Metro Transit Police have released a surveillance image of one of the suspects believed to be involved in this robbery. Police say this person may frequent the area of the Minnesota Avenue Metro station.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121.