Milwaukee teen describes getting punched in the face on MCTS bus, suspect still at large

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee teen and his mother are calling for increased security on MCTS buses after he was punched in the face by a rider Monday, July 28.

The boy suffered a concussion that is still affecting him a day later.

17-year-old Alex Escovedo said he noticed a man in the back of the bus, but he did not pay him any attention and did not provoke him.

Alex put his head down, but moments later, his vision went dark when the man punched him in the face for no reason.

Alex told us, "I was crying, not because I was hurt, but because of how frustrated I was."

Escovedo rides MCTS buses every day, to school, work, and his internship.

He was riding the #18 bus on National Monday with fellow interns and an educator when a man attacked him near 14th Street. He said, "He punched me in the face. I didn't even say anything to him."

Alex said he was stunned, both physically and mentally, unsure what had happened and why.

He called his mother, Gina, at work. She raced to the scene.

"My heart's racing," Gina said. "It feels like a violation. I'm supposed to protect my kid. I wasn't there to protect him."

The man got off the bus two blocks later at 16th. Police are still looking for him.

Gina said, "That's the terrifying part. What if he would have had a weapon on him?"

Alex and Gina both want more security on MCTS buses, pointing to recent assaults against passengers and drivers.

In the meantime, Alex is struggling with sensitivity to light, a swollen face, and nausea that's keeping him from eating.

But Gina said she's just grateful it wasn't worse. "I'm grateful that I did not get the call that every parent doesn't want to get. That their child is no longer here."

MCTS referred us to Milwaukee police for comment.

We reached out to MPD for video from the bus of this incident, but the police department said they have nothing further to share about this incident at this time.