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UPDATE: Charges laid in case of Surrey woman who threatened mother with knife and threw drink in baby's face on Langley bus

Violent fight broke out on bus followed by the 43-year-old suspect kicking the mother's two-year-old girl in the back on Tuesday.
YouTube video
Clip of online video posted of bus incident.
Image from online video of bus incident.

A 43-year-old Surrey woman is in jail facing numerous serious charges after threatening a mother of three with a knife and then physically assaulting her two toddlers who were all on board the 502 bus on Tuesday morning.

The violent encounter including the suspect, Leah Susan MacKay, allegedly kicking the victim's two-year-old in the back and throwing a drink in a baby's face while the baby boy was in a stroller on a bus that stopped at Willowbrook Shopping Centre.

The mother came to the defense of her children, beating on the suspect while the bus was still going. The disturbing physical altercation was videotaped and uploaded to YouTube by a fellow passenger.

Around 10:20 a.m., the 43-year-old suspect and the bus driver began arguing over non-payment of the fare on the bus.

The suspect was swearing profusely, causing the mother of three along with other passengers to ask her to stop using that language. There were several children on the bus in addition to the victim’s own three children, said Langley RCMP.

The suspect threatened to kill the mother and her children before throwing a drink at the youngest child (a baby boy not yet one year old), confirm police.

The two women began to physically fight, with the mother punching the suspect repeatedly and swearing profusely herself, as seen on the YouTube video. Readers wishing to see that video can find it here.  (Warning — The language is offensive.)

The bus driver escorted the first woman to the bus exit. The mother also left the bus and the mother began walking toward Willowbrook Shopping Centre with her children.

That's when the Surrey woman ran after the victim and produced a knife, knocked over the woman's four-year-old daughter and kicked her other daughter, age two, in the back, said Cpl. Holly Marks.

Once officers were called about the attack, the suspect description was broadcast to police in the area.

A Surrey RCMP officer recognized the description as someone he had dealings with in the past, attended her home and arrested her by 10:40 a.m.

She was held in custody overnight and appeared in Surrey Provincial Court Wednesday afternoon.

The suspect was held in custody overnight and has been taken to Surrey Provincial Court for a hearing on Wednesday afternoon.

On Thursday, police announced that Leah Susan MacKay has been charged with two counts of assault wit a weapon, one count of assault, and one count of uttering threats. She was ordered kept in custody, with her next court appearance scheduled for May 23.

- See more at: http://www.langleyadvance.com/news/updated-langley-bus-attack-woman-kicks-toddler-attacks-baby-during-melee-1.1070061#sthash.gdjHa2ki.dpuf

She has been charged with two counts of assault, one count of assault with a weapon and one count of uttering threats. She remains in jail.



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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