TAMPA, Fla. — The State Attorney's Office has released surveillance photos in connection with the fatal May stabbing of a HART bus driver.
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- PDF: View more surveillance photos (could be disturbing to some)
Justin Ryan McGriff, 35, is charged with first-degree murder and resisting arrest in the stabbing of the bus driver, Thomas Dunn.
The stabbing happened May 18 at North Nebraska Avenue between East Lotus Avenue and North Castle Court, south of East Linebaugh Avenue.
The released images show McGriff sitting at the back of the bus, leaning his arm on the seat in front of him. He was wearing a white baseball cap and sunglasses.
McGriff then gets up and walks to the front of the bus, stopping in the aisle just behind the driver.
At about that moment, investigators said the bus's surveillance system picked up a brief conversation between the two men.
McGriff: God bless you
Dunn: What was that?
McGriff: God bless you.
Dunn: Thank you. God bless you, too.
Detectives say the next image shows McGriff swinging what they say appears to be a knife towards Dunn.
Dunn reportedly kept driving, eyes on the road, hands on the wheel.
Investigators said the knife made contact with Dunn's throat. In spite of his injuries, he did manage to steer the bus to safety before slumping in his seat.
The next image shows McGriff leaving the scene.
Police investigators said there were less than 10 people on the bus when Dunn was stabbed. No one else on the bus was injured.
McGriff ran toward Interstate 275, where police caught up with him, authorities say.
A judge refused to grant McGriff bail. He remains in the Hillsborough County Jail.