Woman seriously injured during violent assault on Surrey bus

The suspects in an alleged violent bus assault (Transit Police)

A violent assault on a bus in Surrey left a 61-year-old woman with broken arm, cracked sternum and head trauma.

Now, police are asking for the public’s help in finding the two suspects allegedly involved in the assault.

The investigation stems from an incident on March 20, which happened at approximately 6:30 pm.

According to police, the victim boarded the 96B bus at Surrey Central SkyTrain Station.

As she reached the middle of the bus, a second woman boarded through the middle doors of the bus and took a nearby window seat. As the first woman sat down beside her in the aisle seat, an argument ensued after the woman told the victim said she was saving the seat for her husband, who was travelling with her.

She then allegedly used her hip and shoulder to force the first woman off the seat and onto the floor. The husband sat down in the seat as the victim got up and sat behind the couple.

The victim attempted to take a picture of the pair with her cellphone, drawing their attention. The female suspect allegedly grabbed the cellphone from the victim’s hands, a struggle ensued and she threw the phone on the floor.

Police said she then allegedly grabbed the victim by the hair and pulled her entire body over the back of the seat, striking her head and chest on the metal handrail repeatedly while threatening to kill her.

The husband separated the two women and allegedly grabbed the victim’s phone from another passenger who had picked it up off the floor.

As the two suspects got off the bus at King George Boulevard and 88th Avenue, the victim tried to follow them to retrieve her phone but the man threw the phone on the ground. The suspect couple left, walking into the Bear Creek Business Plaza. Police were called at that point.

Police attended the scene and the woman was taken to hospital with her injuries.

“She remains extremely traumatized,” said Transit Police spokesperson, Anne Drennan.

The two suspects are described as:

South Asian female, 30 to 35 years old, 5’6” tall, medium build, long black hair in a messy ponytail and “bad teeth. She was wearing a purple/maroon jacket with fur trimmed hood, patterned leggings, purple socks and black shoes.
South Asian male, 30 to 35 years, 5’10” tall, short dark hair, beard and moustache, wearing an olive green hoodie with a light circle shaped logo on the chest and a bright coloured hood lining, black shorts, black shoes and carrying a red “Good Life Fitness” duffle bag.

Anyone who recognizes the suspects or has any information about this incident is asked to call the Metro Vancouver Transit Police tip-line at 604-516-7419, or text 87-77-77.

See also