On June 25, 2025, Metro Transit Police responded to the report of an assault having occurred on a metro transit bus traveling in Brooklyn Center, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Upon arriving officers made contact with an individual referred to herein as the victim. The victim reported that earlier that day she had boarded a bus and shortly after having been seated she realized an ex- boyfriend, JOHN WILLIAMS [DOB REDACTED] was on the bus. WILLIAMS approached her, grabbed her braids and told her she was getting off the bus with him.
She resisted, tried to walk more toward the front of the bus and was calling for help. WILLIAMS continued to pull her braids, ripping out some, and trying to force her off the bus with him. This continued until another passenger intervened and WILLIAMS then departed the bus. The victim [NAME REDACTED] indicated that she feared for her life. It should be noted that officers located braids on the bus and collected them as evidence. Officers also spoke with the passenger who intervened and the bus driver.
Both of these individuals separately confirmed the version of events initially described by the victim. An investigator was later assigned to this case. As part of their investigation, in October of 2025, they reviewed surveillance footage of the incident captured on bus cameras. In that footage WILLIAMS is seen to move seats to sit right next to the victim. He is seen pushing her and making aggressive gestures. The victim is then heard asking for help and telling WILLIAMS that she won't get off the bus.
WILLIAMS is then seen grabbing the victim by her hair and saying "you're getting off the bus." The victim is able to get away and runs toward the front of the bus. The victim can be heard asking the driver for help, crying "my life is in danger, I'm not about to die like this!" WILLIAMS is then seen again grabbing the victim by her hair and dragging her until another person seeks to intervene at which point WILLIAMS exists the bus. WILLIAMS has multiple prior domestic violence related offense convictions, including: an April 2016 conviction for domestic assault in file ••-CR-••-••••, and a February 2024 conviction for Threats of Violence in file ••-CR-••-••••. A warrant is being requested in this case due to the severity of the conduct.
