Suspects in attack on blind man on Metro train identified, police say

WASHINGTON - Two suspects believed to have attacked a blind passenger on a Metro Red Line train have been identified, according to transit police.

Police have not released their identities, saying that they will provide an update when they have been arrested.

Police say the blind man accidentally bumped into one of the suspects as he boarded the train. The suspect allegedly responding by pushing and threatening the victim.

A witness reported to police that she intervened and attempted to defuse the situation, but the suspects cursed at her. When she tried to call police, she said the suspects tried to grab her phone. However, the woman held on to her device and called police. She was also able to record video of the altercation between the two suspects and the blind man as the train continued on to the next two stops, the police report states.

Police say things escalated when the train arrived at the NoMa-Gallaudet U station. According to witnesses, it became an all-out brawl when people tried to protect the blind man from the pushing and shoving by the suspects.

Following the assault, the suspects got off the Metro train at Union Station, police say.

The victim did not report any injuries and he did not need medical attention, according to the police report.