Woman stabbed to death at Studio City Metro station

Deadly stabbing on LA Metro

A woman was stabbed to death at the Universal/Studio City Metro station. The suspect was arrested shortly after.

LOS ANGELES - A suspect is in custody after a woman was fatally stabbed in the neck at the Universal/Studio City Metro station, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The stabbing - which police said appeared to be a completely unprovoked attack - was reported around 5 a.m. in the 3900 block of Lankershim Boulevard, according to authorities.

The victim - a woman in her 50s - was stabbed on the platform as she exited the train, police said. She was taken to the hospital where she died from her injuries.

A law enforcement source said she was a random, unprovoked victim of an unhoused man who also took her purse. LAPD identified the suspect as Elliot Nowden.

Elliot Nowden. PHOTO: LAPD

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The suspect, described only as a male wearing distinctive clothing, was arrested about 30 minutes later near Ventura Boulevard and Vineland Avenue.

"Metro extends its condolences to her family and friends," Metro's Dave Sotero said.

The woman was not immediately identified.

Woman stabbed to death in Metro station

The woman was stabbed in the neck, police said. She was taken to the hospital, where she died from her injuries.

Metro zone numbers show that after declining for the last year, crimes against people on their lines jumped by 7.8% in February.

In one week alone this month, there were three separate attacks on Metro buses including a driver who was assaulted in Santa Monica and an elderly passenger who was stabbed in Silver Lake.

LAPD said they are increasing their presence on trains and buses following the deadly attack.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-TIPS.