Transit deputies came up empty Wednesday when they responded to a call regarding an alleged person with a gun riding the Metro Blue Line train into downtown Long Beach, according to Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) officials.
Deputies originally received a call at about 11:30AM at the Del Amo Blue Line station on Wednesday, October 26 regarding a person with a gun seen on their waistband, according to LASD Transit Policing Division spokesman Ramon Montenegro. Shortly after, deputies were told the person had boarded a southbound train into Long Beach, he said.
“The caller gave a pretty detailed description of this person and that they saw a gun in this person’s waistband, but by the time they caught up to this specific train, we couldn’t find anybody matching that description,” Montenegro said.
While searching for the suspect at the downtown platform, on Pine Avenue and First Street, deputies may have pulled out their weapons in anticipation of a confrontation, Montenegro said, in response to a photo provided by a witness that depicted a deputy with his weapon drawn.
“They will definitely always err on the side of caution to be ready,” Montenegro said.
The witness said multiple Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) units were also on the scene when the image was captured at about noon.
The incident comes just weeks after a person was stabbed on the Metro Blue Line 5th Street platform after a fight broke out. Videos of attacks on the Metro Blue Line have also been reported in recent months.
Above, left: Photo courtesy of a Long Beach Post reader.