Police are seeking a “person of interest” after a schoolboy was left with “serious facial injuries” in an assault on a bus in Auckland’s Pakuranga last week.
It’s alleged the woman assaulted the victim – 16-year-old Jason Luo – as they were on a bus travelling from Howick to Auckland City along Pakuranga Rd, Acting Detective Senior Sergeant James Mapp said.
Mapp said the woman, dressed in all black and carrying a suitcase, boarded the bus on Pakuranga Rd, by the intersection with Johns Lane, before assaulting the teenager with an object at about 9.15am on June 28.
The boy had three teeth knocked out in the assault, while three others were damaged, reporters were told in a meeting on Wednesday.
She then left the bus after it stopped on the busway near Williams Ave.
“Police want to hear from anyone who may know who this woman is or who have information about her identity and I’m asking anyone who knows who they are to get in touch,” Mapp said.
“We are also keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident who hasn’t already come forward.”
Mapp said police “are still investigating why the offender did what she did and we cannot say at this point that it is a hate-related crime”.
“Police continue to have no tolerance for this type of crime or intimidation in our communities,” he said.
“We work with Auckland Transport on a range of issues, and will continue to do so to prevent incidents like this or in response to situation like these.”
Support is continuing to be provided to the victim.
“We continue to encourage people to report all crimes to Police rather than taking matters into your own hands as this can put yourself at risk.”
Anyone with information on the woman has been urged to contact police.