SEATTLE - Passengers were stunned after they witnessed an attack of a blind woman on board a King County Metro Bus. The incident was caught on camera and seen only on Q13 FOX News. It happened over a year ago but the video is coming to light now.
Passengers witnessed the attack on a blind woman sitting at the front of the bus. She was minding her own business and holding her cane when the attack happened.
Surveillance video shows a man boarding the bus at about 11am May 18, 2008. Right after he paid his fare, he approached the victim seen in the red hat. Witnesses say he yelled "The sick must die" and proceeded to punch the blind woman.
Charles Capizano is one of six people who rushed to help the woman. He says; "His initial attack was just... I mean she didn't know what hit her and she was just... she got hit pretty good."
Denise Gubernick was also on the bus and rushed to give aid. She says; "He hit her with a full force fist to the side of her head that snapped her sunglasses... Flew off her head... I'm a mother and my instinct is to protect and I just jumped forward to hold her."
Seattle Police say she was punched four to five times in the face and head. The passenger next to the woman came to aid her and blocked the suspect. The passenger was hit four times while blocking the victim.
Several passengers from the back of the bus ran to the front of the bus. One of them can be seen holding back the suspect as he tried to punch the woman. As he was being detained, he yelled "You don't know what you are doing."
The victim sustained swelling and a cut beneath her left eye. The passenger sitting next to her sustained a cut on the left cheek.
The suspect was arrested for the assault but due to his apparent diminished mental capacity, he was never charged. He was, instead, sent to Western State Hospital where he remains today.
The passengers have since been recognized for their heroic efforts. The King County Sheriff's Department honored six of them at an April 22 event.
As for the victim, to those who helped her she says; "It really restores my faith in humanity that these people did in fact join together and protect me. And I want to thank you all for what you did. God bless you."
They didn't say what route it was in the story or on TV, so I don't know if it happened on the bus route I usually ride.
