The attacked happened as he headed toward the New Bern LYNX Station near the corner of South Boulevard and Marsh Road after his shift ended at work at about 8:30 p.m.

The victim, who asked not to be identified, said he was just a few feet from the platform when he was jumped at gunpoint.

“He came out of nowhere. I didn’t see him coming. Then he showed a gun to me,” the victim said. “He started hitting on me, and it was just crazy.”

He said he was wrestled to the ground. He said he got away, only to be tackled again. He said the struggle and beating continued until he broke away for a second time and made a desperate dash for help.

The victim made his way to a red emergency button near the platform, pushed it and was connected directly to 911 and police.

“It was quite a hair-raising experience,” he said.

The attacker took off. The victim is scratched up and shaken, but he was not seriously injured.

The New Bern Station is a small stop along the light rail line, but passengers said they worry about more trouble after the attack.

“I probably won’t be coming to the train by myself anymore,” said Clorissa Moulton.

“It’s definitely scary, especially because I live right there,” said Lindsay Rose. “I don’t have to be coming to the light rail for that to happen, I guess.”

Charlotte Area Transit System officials said they have some surveillance video from the incident but don’t have the actual attack on tape. They said the cameras captured both the victim hitting the emergency button and the attacker running away, but they are not releasing that video at this time.

Those emergency buttons are located on both sides of every light rail station. Pressing the button connects you immediately with 911, and there's a speaker that allows you to talk to the dispatcher.

CATS said they can be used to call for help in any kind of emergency.