New York City Bus Driver Stabbed, Killed By Passenger He Gave Free Ride To

December 2, 2008 8:35 a.m. EST

New York, NY (AHN) - A New York City bus driver was stabbed to death by a passenger he had allowed to ride, despite the fact that the rider's MetroCard was invalid.

However, the passenger began demanding a free transfer card as well, then became agitated and attacked the driver after the driver refused, reminding the passenger that he hadn't paid to begin with.

Edwin Thomas, 46, became the first on-duty bus driver to be killed in the city since 1981.

He was a divorced father of two and had been driving a city bus for seven years. He had become a bus driver after driving an armored truck because he thought it would be safer.

Thomas was stabbed in the torso by the passenger who then jumped off the bus. When police arrived they put Thomas in their squad car and took him to the closest hospital where he died.

There is a $36,000 reward for the capture of the passenger, who was described as being in his 20s.