LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) We are learning more about the teenagers attacked on a TARC bus and the man arrested in the case.
A 14-year-old boy is in critical condition after being stabbed in the heart. A 13-year-old girl was also stabbed; she's recovering at Kosair Children's Hospital.
The incident happened early Sunday morning.
The family of one of the victims is speaking out to WHAS11.
'To know that a 44-year-old man took a knife and plunged it into his heart that's more heartbreaking than anything,' Raushanah Daniel, the aunt of 14-year-old MeQuale Offutt, said.
Suspect Anthony Allen appeared in court Monday morning, March 17.
The judge said he appeared to be sleeping during a portion of the proceeding. His bond is set at $50,000.
'I am praying for him. You have to be a sick person to be able to do something like this to someone,' Daniel said.
Allen is accused of stabbing Offutt in the heart on board a TARC bus around midnight on Saturday.
'Today he is still in a medically induced coma, fighting for his life. He, um, not able to detect or have answers about his brain activity. We know he was having seizures yesterday and the seizures have subsided today,' Daniel said.
Offutt was on the TARC bus with a 13-year-old girl when witnesses say Allen came on the bus belligerent and then is accused of attacking the children near 28th and Broadway.
'Him being belligerent, him being hostile, him cussing and him picking and he instigated a situation with the 13-year-old. And from what we gather, we haven't been able to talk to her to get her side of the story, but it started with her and MeQuale said something in reference to her,' Daniel said.
Allen was on the bus hours prior to the stabbing and got back on the bus.
We've learned that Allen has a long criminal history.
It includes assaults and sex crimes involving children.
'TARC needs to take some responsibility because things like that, people that get on the bus that are belligerent, they need to have something more tactful in line to handle situations like that,' Daniel said.
TARC issued this statement:
'TARC is deeply disturbed and saddened by what has happened. Safety of our passengers and operators has been, and always will be, our number one priority. We are working with police in the investigation into this horrible crime. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims and to others impacted by this tragedy.'
