Statement from Interim Chief of Police Kevin Franklin regarding 5/10/23 stabbing

BART Police Officers arrested a suspect at West Oakland Station at approximately 1pm in connection with a stabbing aboard an Antioch-bound Yellow line train.

Officers say Charles Johnson (date of birth 1/6/1999) of San Francisco stabbed a 25-year-old man with a cleaver-style knife as the victim ran away from Johnson on the train.  Johnson attempted to flee with the victim’s backpack after exiting the train at West Oakland but officers apprehended him without incident. Officers recovered the weapon and the victim’s backpack. 

Johnson will be booked at Santa Rita jail on 245(a)(1) PC, 211 PC, and probation violation. A prohibition order has been issued.

The victim was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The BART Police Department is making the most of its resources to maximize its visible presence in the system. In March BPD began a new deployment strategy that more than doubled the presence of sworn officers on trains. BPD removed seven vehicle patrols per shift and redeployed those officers inside trains. That means an additional eight to 18 officers per shift are patrolling trains in BART’s core service area.

Riders are encouraged to download the free BART Watch App and to save the BART Police Dispatch number 510-464-7000 on their phones.