A group of university students fell victim to theft, intimidation and assault — all caught on tape — while riding the Metro on Nov. 30.
Two juveniles have been arrested in connection with the incident, said Metro Transit Police spokeswoman Caroline Lukas. The video was posted to YouTube and aired on WTTG: Fox Channel 5.
The students were traveling into Washington at about 11 p.m. when a large group of young men and women began harassing them on the train, said a victim of the incident who wished to remain anonymous to protect their identity. In a video of the incident posted online, members of the group can be seen screaming at the students.
“They were just making threats,” the student said. “It was just screaming; there wasn’t real coherence in it.”
In the video, one member of the group can be seen grabbing a student’s phone and exiting the train at the Fort Totten station. The student followed the individual off the train and attempted to retrieve her phone by allegedly tackling the individual.
Other group members rushed in, and, according to the source, punched the female student.
The victims can be seen screaming for the suspects to return their phones. Other riders did not provide any assistance, according to the source.
“I was a little scared,” the student said. “I was more upset that they hurt my friend.”
The incident was unusual, said University Police spokesman Capt. Marc Limansky. He said he had never heard of a similar event involving a group of suspects on the Metro or in the College Park area.
Metro thefts, however, are common, and students and riders should take several precautions to protect themselves, Limansky said.
“Keep personal property secure and hidden so people won’t be tempted to grab it,” Limansky said. “Students using Metro should, of course, always be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity to police.”
He also advised students to check Metro’s website for safety tips.
Lukas declined to comment further on Metro Transit Police’s ongoing investigation.
“Stuff like that happens and you can’t just stop going on the Metro,” the source said. “If anything, I’m just more cautious.”