Man Charged with Attempted Murder in Seattle Train Push

A man faces attempted second-degree murder charges after surveillance video captured him allegedly pushing a stranger toward the tracks at a Seattle light rail station as a train approached. The incident occurred on March 19 around 6 p.m. at Northgate Station, where 26-year-old Elisio Melendez is accused of targeting 35-year-old Peter Michael Walbrun from behind.

According to charging documents from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Melendez waited near an elevator pillar, peering out to time his actions with the arriving northbound train. Video footage shows him lunging at Walbrun, who was standing near the platform edge and reading articles on his phone. The initial shove nearly knocked Walbrun onto the tracks, but he regained his balance and pushed back during a brief struggle. Melendez then attempted a second push before fleeing the scene. No one was injured in the encounter.

Walbrun later told investigators he had been focused on his phone when he felt the sudden force. "I was reading articles on my phone when he shoved me," he said, according to a probable cause affidavit. Authorities identified Melendez through station surveillance and additional footage from...