Arrest Made In Fatal LRT Stabbing
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minneapolis police arrested a man overnight they believe is connected to a fatal stabbing at a light rail station.
Officers took 25-year old Anthony Bowker into custody around midnight Sunday after investigators tracked him to a homeless shelter. They believe he stabbed a man to death at the Lake Street stop along the Blue Line around 1:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon.
The victim was found at the bottom of the Lake Street Stop platform. He died a short time later at the Hennepin County Medical Center.
Minneapolis Police Homicide Commander Catherine Johnson says teamwork between her investigators and those from Metro Transit Police lead to the quick arrest.
"The quick response of our patrol officers and patrol officers of our patrol from Metro Transit helped us to identify a number of witnesses to the incident," Johnson said.
Investigators shut the blue line down for more than two hours as they spoke with witnesses. But it was security cameras from the platform that gave investigators images they needed to track down Bowker.
"If you commit crimes on the light rail system, there is a high probability that that you will be caught on tape and that's exactly what happened here," Lt. Todd Schmitz of Metro Transit said.
Metro Transit police do not believe the stabbing was an isolated act and say there is no need for the public to be concerned about safety.
Members of Minnesota Acts Now were at the scene to do their part. They hope to be extra eyes and ears to help people who use Metro Transit to feel safe doing so.
"It's going to take MADD Dads, Minnesota Acts Now, the community, the fathers, the mothers. We all need to be the extra eyes and ears so our children can feel safe getting on the train," Pastor Harding Smith said.
Bowker was arrested on probable cause murder, but he has not been formally charged with a crime. Investigators hope to speak with a few more witnesses before presenting the case to the Hennepin County Attorney for charges.
The name of the stabbing victim has not been released.
