Six rock attacks pummel buses in Minneapolis

For the past few weeks along Penn Avenue N. in Minneapolis, rocks and chunks of concrete have rained down on buses.

The attacks, always late at night, haven't injured anyone yet, but they've destroyed a windshield and broken numerous windows, according to a Metro Transit spokesman.

A rock attack on July 10 hit passing cars and a taxi as well, according to a witness who asked not to be named. The taxi spun off the road into a vacant lot after it was hit by a flying chunk of concrete. The Route 19 bus that night was also hit with a large rock that smashed through the windshield and landed inside the bus.

Drivers have reported six attacks this month, the bus agency spokesman said.

All of the cases are under investigation by the Metro Transit police and the Minneapolis Police Department.

Buses were struck on July 10, three times on July 14 and twice on July 23. All of the attacks were between 10:30 p.m. and 12:45 a.m. Other than the July 10 incident, which occurred near the intersection of Penn Avenue N. and Golden Valley Road, the buses have been struck while traveling a two-block stretch of Penn between 36th and Dowling Avenues N..

The incidents reported include:

• On July 10, a rock broke a bus windshield and landed inside at 10:20 p.m. It occurred near the intersection of Penn and Golden Valley Road.

• On July 14, a rock or brick broke a bus window at 10:30 p.m. near 36th and Penn Avenues N. An hour later at the same location, a thrown object broke a driver's side window. At 11:35 p.m., objects thrown at a bus near Penn and Dowling Avenues N. broke windows on the rear door.

• On July 23, rocks broke three bus windows at 11:15 p.m. near the intersection of 37th and Penn Avenues N. An hour and a half later, rocks broke four bus windows near the same intersection.

Matt McKinney • 612-217-1747