Woman slain in knife attack on Metro train identified by family

The woman who was attacked by a transient and later died from stab wounds to her neck was identified by a family member Tuesday.

The unprovoked attack occurred early Monday morning as the victim was on a Los Angeles Metro subway train from North Hollywood headed toward Union Station.

After being stabbed in the throat with two small kitchen knives, the woman got off the train at the Universal City B Line Station while bleeding profusely, the Los Angeles Police Department stated following the incident Monday.

The woman was assisted by security personnel before eventually being taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead.

On Tuesday, a family member identified the victim as Mirna Soza, a 66-year-old security guard who was on her way home from an overnight shift at a restaurant when she was fatally attacked.

While authorities have yet to officially identify the victim, a GoFundMe has been organized to help the family lay Soza to rest.

The suspect in the attack, identified by police as Elliot Tramel Nowden, was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held on $2 million bail, authorities said.

Investigators said Nowden exited the subway at the same station as Soza and fled before being caught a short time later near Ventura Boulevard and Vineland Avenue.

Nowden, who is 45 years old and described by police as homeless, has been in trouble for harassing and attacking Metro passengers in the past.

In July 2019, Nowden was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon while on probation for attacking another passenger earlier that year, the Police Department said Tuesday.

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Nowden was sentenced in December 2019 to four years in state prison but continued to frequent Metro stations after his release.

Nowden was arrested several more times this year, including in February when he was arrested for an assault at the same Red Line station, police said.

Authorities say Nowden and the victim did not know each other and believe there are other victims who have been assaulted.

Soza is survived by her three children and seven grandchildren. Her family said her son lives in Los Angeles and her two daughters live in Nicaragua.

Her daughters said she was working hard to save up money so she could eventually move back to Nicaragua to be with her friends and family.

Anyone with additional information that may further aid in the investigation was asked to contact Operations Valley Bureau Homicide Detectives at 818-374-9550. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 877-527-3247.

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go directly to lacrimestoppers.org. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

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