The last passenger on Irvine Fraser’s bus Tuesday morning refused repeated requests to exit the bus before an altercation broke out and the driver was stabbed to death, Winnipeg police said Wednesday.

Police announced a second-degree murder charge has been levelled against a 22-year-old man in connection with the fatal stabbing of the Winnipeg Transit driver on the campus of the University of Manitoba shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday.

In addition to the murder charge, Brian Kyle Thomas is also charged with possession of a weapon and probation breaches.

Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said police believe Fraser repeatedly asked Thomas to leave the bus as it was at the end of the line. When Thomas refused, Fraser “escorted” him off the bus where a verbal altercation turned physical. According to police Fraser was stabbed multiple times.

“This individual just refused to comply, and became confrontational, until this erupted to a very physical confrontation,“ Michalyshen said.

While the area where the incident occurred is generally quiet and relatively empty at that hour of the day, Michalyshen said police received “multiple calls” to 911.

“There were still some people around, and buses and other operators were in the area,” he said.

Thomas allegedly fled and would later be tracked down on the frozen Red River and arrested.

He is in custody.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Chief Danny Smyth said the incident was sure to spark debate over having police presence on Transit buses, but cautioned now was time to let investigators do their job first.

A day later, Michalyshen hinted further conversations on the topic are in motion.

“It’s a really, really sad scenario, but it’s something that we’re all faced with, and as a city and as a community we have to deal with this,” Michalyshen said. “I know Chief Smyth is committed to having further discussions with senior city officials with respect to how we move forward. But right now our focus is on reviewing this incident. This is just Day 2.

“... Are there things that need to be done in the future with respect to further enhancing safety for bus operators? By all means, we’re going to be at the table and having those discussions.”

John Callahan, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505, told the Canadian Press an emergency button is located on Transit buses, but Fraser didn’t have a chance to push his.

He said a clearer policy needs to be established as to what a driver should do in a similar situation, and suggested routes should not end in the city’s far reaches, but rather in a more central location with on-site inspectors.

“It should not be a solo effort,” he said. “It’s a recipe for disaster.”

dlarkins@postmedia.com

Twitter: @LarkinsWSun

Support floods in for Fraser

An outpouring of support is flowing online for the family of a Winnipeg Transit driver killed on the job early Tuesday morning.

As of Wednesday afternoon, three separate GoFundMe fundraising pages had been set up in the name of Irvine Fraser, the bus driver who police said was brutally stabbed to death on the campus of the University of Manitoba early Tuesday morning.

One of the pages was created by a colleague of Fraser’s and set a goal of $10,000 to be raised to assist the family Fraser left behind. In less than 24 hours the page had already garnered more than $15,000 in donations.

Another GoFundMe page was set up by a former U of M student as a way for students and faculty there to reach out and assist financially.

“Each day and night, thousands of students rely on the many dedicated Winnipeg Transit drivers to get either to or from the University of Manitoba,” the page reads. “For many students, education would be out of reach without the services provided by drivers like Irvine Fraser.”

That page had raised $4,107 of a $5,000 goal in 24 hours. Taylor Nimchonok, who opened the page, said she is waiting to be contacted by the family so they can be set up as a beneficiary.

The Amalgamated Transit Union said in a Facebook post on Wednesday Fraser had been working nights to help support his young granddaughter after Fraser’s daughter passed away.

A rally organized by Transit workers has been planned for 10 a.m. Friday at city hall in Fraser’s memory.