crime

14-year-old student arrested for stabbing bus driver at Hachioji

40 Comments

Police on Monday morning arrested a 14-year-old student for allegedly stabbing a 37-year-old bus driver after an altercation in Hachioji on Sunday afternoon.

The boy was quoted by police as saying that his friend (who was not on the bus) had earlier made fun of him for being weak and that he stabbed the driver to show he was tough, Fuji TV reported.

According to police, the trouble started after the bus stopped at JR Nishi-Hachioji Station at 3:15 p.m. Passengers said they heard the boy get into an argument with the driver. The boy produced a fruit knife and ordered the driver to close the door, but when he didn't, the two got off the bus, at which time the boy allegedly stabbed the driver and then fled, witnesses said.

The driver was taken to hospital with stab wounds to his chest, and is in a stable condition.

The boy left his bag containing his cell phone and bankbook on the bus, police said.

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40 Comments
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The man got off the bus and the driver followed him,

Why in the world would you do that?

So is the bus driver OK?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Ban knives? Oh wait, I guess we tried that. Seems it didn't work.

Hope the driver is okay. They certainly need a bit more safest - though getting out to follow the guy wasn't exactly safe. Do drivers here chat to each other via radio? Never heard/seen it myself.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Enforcing rules on the bus. Now that's dedication to his job! I hope he is okay and he needs a bonus!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Japanese media says the trouble first happened between the young man and an old man both on the bus. The young man got irritated and got angry against the old man who took time in paying a bus fee. I observed similar scenes on buses, at train stations as well as at bank ATMs. Old folks, most of them appearing to suffer dementia seniore, open their purses when their turn come for the first time and search and count coins irritating waiting people in line. Most of passengers prepare coins before their turn come.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

@Schopenhauer

Yep, many old peeps take forever to do something (don't forget getting OFF the bus, only standing up when the doors have opened) but this youngster obviously has issues. Plus, old people are everywhere and it DOES take time for them to get things done. It's just the way it is. WTF is he doing carrying a knife, anyway? For protection?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Nishi Hachioji?? Sounds about right, lived there for a few years so I am not surprised!!

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

More info please, why did the bus driver get off the bus?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

A few of the comments indicate the perpetrator may have been irritated by an elderly person, though the article does not mention this. I recently noticed how delighted some elderly people become when you show them attention or simple common courtesy. My wife is constantly irritated by her own mother, but I try my best to be patient and listen to her (the mother). We must also extend special civility and kindness to elderly people.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@thywillbedone

A suggestion, if I may, is to not give priority to old people when it comes to courtesy and civility, but to treat ALL people with appropriate respect. Age has nothing to do with it.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

The boy left his bag containing his cell phone and bankbook on the bus, police said

Hmmm, gonna be a bit tricky for the police to track him down then. Get Colombo in!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Ok, so the article is updated now. Good.

Wanted to be tough? Some kids really are weak, huh. Peer pressure and all that. This little man (let me guess, black shiny Adidas track suit with golden stripes, plucked eyebrows and a little mustache) has now gotten himself into pretty much trouble. For what? And the driver, doing his job got scarred for life by this little hoodlum clown. Hopefully, the driver recovers and the 14-year old get sufficient treatment to be able to recognize what he's done. I also hope he can move on to become a better person, being a bit more constructive than this.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It sounds like this boy was itching for an excuse to pull out an knife and attack someone, so I doubt it has anything to do with the bus driver or an elderly person taking their time counting out coins.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

he stabbed the driver to show he was tough

Well, now he is gonna get a bit of time in juvenile hall to prove how tough he is (not). Send him to a juvenile detention center in Australia. That will show him how tough he isn't.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If only his friend had accused him of being not kind enough instead of not tough enough. Imagine the havoc he would have created handing out flowers and holding open doors.

Time to slam the door on this punk. Born and raised in one of the more privileged countries in the world and he stabs a person because he wants to feel tough?

6 ( +7 / -1 )

I haven't read of a stabbing incident in awhile. Springtime must be upon us. I hope the bus driver make a quick recovery.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hmmm, gonna be a bit tricky for the police to track him down then. Get Colombo in!

Colombo has shuffled off the mortal coil...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Bonword, nice retort!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well, apparently, he didn't show anyone he was tough...just stupid. I'm glad the driver is okay.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If the young guy wanted to prove how tough he was he should have demonstated it without the knife.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The boy was quoted by police as saying that his friend (who was not on the bus) had earlier made fun of him for being weak and that he stabbed the driver to show he was tough

Well, congratulations because you just proved that your friend was right and that your nothing but a weak little coward for stabbing an unarmed bus driver.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

There was once a time long ago when I was young when using a knife against someone without a knife would be the last evidence of being tough.

In those days, you not only didn't mind if old people took time to buy their ticket, but you would say hello to them, see if they needed help and stand up and let them have your seat. You might have helped them get off, and you said thank you to the driver when you got off.

Wasn't so long ago.

Most young kids in Japan are super nice and decent though.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Schopenhauer: "Old folks, most of them appearing to suffer dementia seniore, open their purses when their turn come for the first time and search and count coins irritating waiting people in line. Most of passengers prepare coins before their turn come."

It IS irritating when old folks, or young folks even, get up and suddenly decide they need change or what have you when everyone is trying to get off the bus, but you don't stab someone as a result. Fortunately it was only a fruit knife, and fortunately the kid didn't aim for the neck or anywhere where a fruit knife COULD prove to give a fatal blow. Hope this kid is locked up in juvenile detention -- he'll probably learn that you don't lash out when made fun of.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Stabbing a person does not mean that you are tough... pretty much anyone can stab a person with a knife.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How the hell do PRODUCE a knife, any plungable item for that matter? The words are so misleading!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Stabbing a person does not mean that you are tough... pretty much anyone can stab a person with a knife.

In this case, tough is a stand-in for "psychopath". I think the did prove he was psychopathic.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

he stabbed the driver to show he was tough

He showed the world that he is a miserable failure and a coward. He needs to know and understand this.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Looks like stabby summer is on the way back again!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Just WTF?! a 14 year old kid stabbed an unarmed bus driver? Just to show the rest of the world that he is tough? l think summer is coming faster then...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

smithjapan:

" Fortunately it was only a fruit knife, "

Come again? ONLY a fruit knife? I am not sure what knife it takes to impress you... Crocodile Dundee size?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

what's the punishment for stupidity? jailed until he becomes an adult? 10 years?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I didn't see anything about an "elderly person" in the article - but if there was one, I agree with those who say there's even more reason to show respect - not pseudo-toughness! Just out of curiosity, at what age may one open a "bank account" here in Japan? Both my children had one at birth - opened by me at the time (it is no longer possible to open acounts for anyone else now - not even your own family) - but I would have thought one needed at least a paying job before getting such an account. Is he already working?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

enkeldika - what's the punishment for stupidity? jailed until he becomes an adult? 10 years?

I'm afraid that would be a life sentence in Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

WilliB: "Come again? ONLY a fruit knife? I am not sure what knife it takes to impress you... Crocodile Dundee size?"

Relax, dude. My point is that a fruit knife is quite small and if stabbed in the torso it could only do limited damage. Had it been, say, a chef's knife the wounds would have been far more serious. ANY knife is dangerous -- I'm not denying that -- I'm just saying that I'm thankful the kid had limited access to weapons and did not do more harm.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

He is 14 I maybe wrong but I am not sure he can be prosecuted in Japan. But I sure as hell hope he is !!!! This little pethetic runt needs to see the inside if a cell!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

smithinjapan Apr. 23, 2012 - 05:15PM JST. Relax, dude. My point is that a fruit knife is quite small and if stabbed in the torso it could only do limited damage.

Some people displays an interesting perception of fruit knife. While most people in our society understand, perhaps it's because knives are so common as tools in our everyday life. Even a small knife attacks can be quiet, bloody and quick If the attacker is really good, you might sustain a fatal wound before you feel the cut, or even before you realize a knife is involved at all. Yes, that small fruit knife in your pocket is fully capable of causing some massive trauma if used skillfully.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Update says the boy wrote in his twitter that how nice it is to hijack a bus and his friend kid him that he is too weak to do such act. he then proceeed to buy a fruit knife in a convenient store and boarded the bus, told the driver to shut the door and that he is going to take over the bus. The driver of the bus resisted and he was stabbed....

Too many video games no human interaction and juku until 12 in the evening produce nonproductive individuals

0 ( +0 / -0 )

if im the drivier, i kick out on the bus that crazy little weak bastid.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"The man got off the bus and the driver followed him,"

Why in the world would you do that?

I have to agree, why did he follow him...? Yes, the kid is a wacko for stabbing somebody, but what is up with this total lack of any common sense that we see examples of everyday in Japan...?

What did he expect to accomplish..?

Boy: "I'm gonna stab you!"

Driver: "Ok I double dare you to stab me!"

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Message to little criminal:

You are still weak you little punk.

Using a knife doesnt show how strong you are. Not to mention you felt you had to prove yourself to your dumb friend. If you were really strong, you would have told you friend to "shut up and get a life, then grow up".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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