An 18-year-old woman was slashed across the face Tuesday evening while riding the 49-Van Ness bus.
The victim was approached by three suspects — two men and a woman, all in their 20s — who asked her a question. The victim answered them, and one of the men took out a knife and slashed her across the face.
According to a reader, the incident happened shortly before 6 p.m. Monday.
Although police reports didn’t explain what the conversation was about, a reader spoke to someone who was sitting on the bus when it happened.
He wrote:
“According to the witness I spoke to, who was riding the bus, the group of perpetrators started verbally harassing the victim, who denied being in a gang. apparently, they then said something like ” if you’re not banging then why do you have all that makeup on.”
The witness said she was surprised the driver did not stop the bus or do anything, but finally, she pulled over at the mission/valencia stop and put the bus out of service.
Most people continued sitting on the bus, until the driver said they had to get off. as people were getting off, the group of perpetrators went up to the victim and seemed to hit her, then exited the bus. It was not until the witness saw the blood that she realized the victim had been stabbed, close to her eye. “
The three suspects then got off the bus near Mission and Valencia streets and fled on foot, according to police.
The victim suffered lacerations to the face and was taken to San Francisco General Hospital.
This post was updated at 6:24 p.m. after receiving information from a reader.
A friend on the bus at the time said they didn’t seem to know each other but both slashed girl and slashers appeared to be gang types.
I’m guessing this is from a police report of some kind. . . It would be useful to know if they knew each other (i.e. a personal attack), or if there are random slashers riding the buses now.
Tessa, police didn’t give any more information on whether the suspects knew the victim or what the conversation was about but if I find out more, I’ll definitely update the post.
Thank you, and many, many thanks to the reader who provided some facts to update the story.
Great description, thanks!
Near “mission and Valencia”?
yes that is an intersection of two streets. check a map.
Mission and Valencia intersect near 29th St.