SAN JOSE — A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a brutal assault Thursday at a light-rail station in San Jose, according to authorities.
The incident happened just before 1:15 p.m. at the Children’s Discovery Museum station, Santa Clara County sheriff’s Deputy Felicia Segura said in a news release. Deputies arrived to find a 45-year-old man covered in blood from his head to his chest.
The suspect had already left the scene, Segura said, adding that he was wearing an armor-plated vest.
The victim was taken to an area hospital, where he was listed in stable condition Thursday night. One of his injuries, an 8- to 10-inch cut to the forehead, required seven staples. He also suffered a 4-inch cut to an elbow and a half-inch cut to a wrist.
The suspect barricaded himself inside a nearby residence, but he was later taken into custody. He was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose on charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of body armor during the commission of a felony and interfering with safe transit operations.
Segura said an investigation revealed the suspect and the victim did not know each other prior to the attack.
The victim told deputies he believed the suspect attacked him with an edged weapon. That assertion was supported by surveillance footage, which showed the suspect repeatedly striking the victim. However, no edged weapon was found at the crime scene.
The sheriff’s office was “disturbed by the brutality” of the attack, but also grateful to witnesses who called 911, Segura said.
“We are thankful for all the witnesses who were brave enough to call 911,” Segura said, “and to come forward and speak with sheriff’s deputies regarding the incident that occurred.”