CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Area Transit System has released surveillance video of a man being attacked on one of its buses.
The incident occurred last month on a route in north Charlotte.
The video captures two men arguing in the back of the bus before a man wearing red grabs another man’s bookbag. This leads to one of the men getting up and attacking the other.
The video showed the victim, later identified as 64-year-old James Godfrey, lying on the bus. The driver of the bus then continued the route for a while before approaching the victim and asking if he needed help.
Documents said the driver later called MEDIC once they reached the Transit Center.
Channel 9’s Almiya White spoke with Godfrey’s sister, Angelia Adams, who questioned why the driver didn’t act sooner.
“Would it have been that bad if she had sought help immediately? Could it have been better for him, a better life for him?” said Adams. ”You’re hired to keep your passengers safe on the bus. And she did not do that.”
When asked if that was the policy for how they handle injured passengers, CATS said bus operators should pull over when an incident occurs, open the doors, and call their bus operations control center. They are then instructed to wait for assistance.
They, however, did not release a comment regarding the bus driver in this situation.
According to court documents, the suspect beat and kicked Godfrey multiple times. He suffered a broken neck and a severed spine. A GoFundMe has been set up to aid in his recovery.
“He does not remember the accident, the attack. He says he doesn’t remember anything about it,” said Adams. “He’s cried many times. You know when he realizes that he’s lying in a bed? 24/7, you know, he can’t do anything for himself, nothing.”
The suspect in this case has been charged with attempted murder.
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