MADISON, Wis. — A 20-year-old man was charged Wednesday for allegedly attacking a man on a city bus in late May.
According to a criminal complaint, 20-year-old Kadhafi Washington punched a man on a Madison Metro bus on May 23 after he thought he heard the victim call him a racial slur. The victim said he didn’t use any slurs, and surveillance footage from the bus confirmed that.
Officials said the incident started when the victim noticed Washington and another man weren’t wearing masks on the bus. According to the complaint, the victim then asked the bus driver about the mask policy. While waiting for an answer Washington and the other man approached the victim and started swearing at him, asking him why the victim called them a slur.
The victim said he didn’t call Washington a slur, and Washington proceeded to punch the victim once in the face.
Washington turned himself in to police June 7.
Washington is facing one count of battery to a public transit operator, which is a felony. If convicted he faces up to three years in prison.
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