Tragedy struck the Los Angeles Metro community early Monday morning at the Universal City Metro station, where 67-year-old Mirna Soza Arauz was fatally attacked. Authorities have identified Arauz as the victim of an unprovoked stabbing incident that occurred around 5 a.m. as she disembarked from the Metro B Line train.
Mirna Soza Arauz, a dedicated worker returning home from her overnight shift at Tommy’s Burgers in North Hills, suffered a fatal wound to the throat during the attack. Despite immediate efforts to save her, Arauz succumbed to her injuries shortly after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
The assailant, identified as 45-year-old Elliot Tramel Nowden, was arrested at the scene. Nowden, who is homeless, was reportedly armed with two knives during the attack. His arrest record includes previous assaults, and he had been released from prison in 2022 after serving half of a four-year sentence for assault with a deadly weapon.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of violence on the Metro transit system. Just days before, a Metro bus driver was assaulted following an altercation with an individual who damaged the bus. Additionally, there was a stabbing on a Metro bus in Silver Lake and another violent attack on a bus driver near South Los Angeles, with the suspect in the latter case still at large.
Interim LAPD Chief Dominic Choi expressed profound sadness over the incident, underscoring the critical need to enhance safety for all passengers using the Metro system. “This tragic event is not just a statistic; it is a stark reminder of the urgent need for improved security measures on our public transit systems,” Choi stated.
Mirna Soza Arauz is remembered by her colleagues and friends as a kind-hearted and hardworking individual. She had been diligently saving money with hopes of reuniting with her children in Nicaragua. Her untimely death has not only left a void in the lives of her family and friends but also raised concerns about safety among her fellow Metro passengers.
As the community mourns the loss of Mirna Soza Arauz, discussions continue about ways to prevent such violent acts in the future and ensure a safer commuting environment for everyone. The memory of Arauz’s gentle spirit and dedication to her family will live on as a reminder of the human impact behind each of these tragic incidents.
