Man charged with second-degree murder in stabbing death of Winnipeg bus driver

WINNIPEG – Police have charged a man with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of a Winnipeg transit driver.

Brian Kyle Thomas, 22, is also charged with possession of a weapon and failure to comply with a probation order.

Police say the driver had told a lone passenger to get off at the University of Manitoba stop in the early hours of Tuesday, because it was the end of the line.

The passenger came to the front of the bus and said he didn't want to leave, so the driver escorted him off.

Police say there was a scuffle outside the bus, where the driver was stabbed multiple times in the upper body.

Irvine Jubal Fraser, 58, died in hospital.

"This individual was asked … by the operator … many, many times to exit the bus, that (it) was the end of the route and it was time to exit," said police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen.

"This individual just refused to comply and became obviously confrontational until this certainly erupted to a very serious physical confrontation."

Police said Tuesday that a suspect had been quickly arrested trying to cross the frozen Red River near campus.

An officer who later returned to look for evidence on the river fell through the ice, but was rescued.

Besides cameras, city buses are equipped with emergency buttons that connect drivers to a 911 operator.

John Callahan, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505, said Fraser didn't have a chance to push the button when he was attacked.

He described Fraser as a popular, friendly man who planned to retire next year.