North Carolina Man With 15 Prior Cases Accused of Stabbing Passenger on City Bus

CHARLOTTE, NC - The man charged in a bus stabbing last week was reportedly in and out of jail twice this year before allegedly stabbing another man in the chest during a city bus ride. 

The suspect, 57-year-old James Calvin Bennett, was booked into the Mecklenburg County Jail twice this year, with his most recent release being this past October. His latest arrest was on November 7 on charges of attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and indecent exposure, Fox News reported. 

The victim, identified as Jose "Frenchie" Mulongo, nearly died from multiple stab wounds, including one just to the left of his heart, according to a police affidavit reviewed by Fox News. The bus driver recognized Bennett as a homeless man who frequented shelters along her route and told police he stalked Mulongo up and down the bus before allegedly stabbing him.

That claim was corroborated by surveillance video, according to detectives investigating the case. Other witnesses said they heard an argument and saw Mulongo trying to get away before the attack. Another passenger told police he saw Bennett with an open container of alcohol and a large kitchen knife with a black blade.

After the alleged stabbing, at least one bystander intervened and separated the victim from his attacker. Bennett then fled on foot, but police caught him hours later wearing the same bloody clothes, according to court documents. 

"Bennett has a lengthy criminal history, including being charged with assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, and inflicting serious injury," a detective wrote in the affidavit. "He pleaded guilty to a lesser offense, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury."

Upon his arrest, Bennett invoked his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, according to the affidavit, but then allegedly told the detective, "You've got to have a knife if you can keep me here, you got to have one."

Roughly 20 minutes later, the detective said he overheard the man sobbing. After his arrest in the stabbing case, a detective recognized him from an incident four days earlier in which a woman reported a man masturbating while staring at her on another bus.

Bennett was charged with larceny in May and released a day later on a $5,000 bond. In September, police picked him up again on charges of robbery, domestic violence, and making threats. He posted a $25,000 bond and was released on October 21.

A more in-depth review of court records found 15 cases against Bennett in the Mecklenburg, Robeson, and Wake District Courts, dating back to 2022. He is now being held without bail on the attempted murder charge. 

The city of Charlotte has faced intense scrutiny over low bail for repeat offenders in the wake of another public transit stabbing, the August murder of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska. She was a pizzeria worker who was stabbed in the neck from behind on a commuter train.