The Brooklyn MTA bus driver who was stabbed in a daytime incident last month saw the alleged attacker charged with attempted murder, but he was ultimately released due to a grand jury not indicting him within the required timeframe, as reported by authorities.
Malachi Houston, 27, was arrested on July 8 and charged with attempted murder for the stabbing of a 60-year-old bus operator on the B99 bus in East New York a month prior, specifically at Pitkin and Alabama avenues. However, Houston was released after the grand jury did not indict him within the specified 6-day window, according to the District Attorney’s office.
“Prosecutors presented evidence to the grand jury which took no action,” a spokesperson for the DA’s Office stated. “The investigation is ongoing and additional evidence may be presented to the grand jury.”
The altercation reportedly began over the direction of the bus, leading to a physical confrontation between Houston and the driver, resulting in the stabbing, according to witnesses and law enforcement sources.
The injured bus driver was taken to Brookdale University and Medical Center for treatment, where he was reported to be in stable condition after the attack.
Houston, a resident of the neighborhood, has a history of three prior arrests, including charges for criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a forged instrument. He was also previously arrested for grand larceny in 2017.
Following the incident, a bus operator advocated for increased protection for drivers, highlighting the risks they face from emotionally disturbed passengers.
Additionally, two more bus drivers were attacked in separate incidents in the city the day before, as per police sources.
The incidents included a female bus driver in East New York being struck by a passenger who claimed she missed her stop, and another bus driver being assaulted with a liquid after requesting a passenger to fold up her stroller before boarding the bus.
