Transient arrested in stabbing of 69-year-old man at Riverside Metrolink station
A man was arrested Monday in connection with a stabbing at a Metrolink station in downtown Riverside over the weekend that left a 69-year-old man critically wounded.
Police took Raymond Bonner, 36, into custody on suspicion of attempted murder about 4 a.m. in Moreno Valley, Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback said. Authorities described Bonner as a transient.
Officers responded at 8:14 a.m. Sunday to a report of a stabbing on the platform area of the Metrolink station at 4066 Vine St.
Police say Bonner approached the victim on the platform, and after a brief verbal exchange, he pulled out a knife and stabbed the man in the neck. Bonner then ran north on the train tracks, Railsback said.
The victim, who authorities think is from Los Angeles County, was planning to board a train home that day after visiting with friends. Paramedics treated the man at the scene before taking him to a hospital. He is in critical, but stable, condition, Railsback said.
Police searched the area around the train station for several hours Sunday with help from a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department bloodhound but initially could not find the suspect. Detectives received tips from the public after the department released security camera footage Sunday afternoon in an effort to locate the attacker.
Detectives identified Bonner based on calls from the public. They secured a search warrant for a residence in the 12100 block of Graham Street, where he was staying, Railsback said.
Bonner is being held in the Robert Presley Detention Center on $1-million bail.
Police are continuing to investigate. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det. Karla Corbett at (951) 353-7134 or kcorbett@riversideca.gov, or Det. Jim Brandt at (951) 353-7137 or jbrandt@riversideca.gov.
Twitter: @Hannahnfry
UPDATES:
1:15 p.m.: This article was updated with information about the suspect and his arrest.
This article was originally published at 8:25 a.m.
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