Three Women Charged Following Alleged Knife Assault at Sun Ray Transit Station in St. Paul
Published: June 6th, 2026
SAINT PAUL MN: Three women have been charged in Ramsey County District Court following an alleged group assault involving a knife at the Sun Ray Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) station in St. Paul.
According to criminal complaints, 22-year-old Zion Joyce Hampton, 18-year-old Naiya Jenae Burnett, and 18-year-old Aiyanna Denise Syverson are each facing felony charges stemming from the June 3 incident.
Hampton and Syverson are each charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and second-degree riot while armed with a dangerous weapon. Burnett is charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.
According to the complaints, Metro Transit Police officers responded to the Sun Ray BRT stop at approximately 8:46 p.m. on June 3 after receiving a report that three females had assaulted a man and taken some of his belongings.
The victim told officers the women approached him and began hitting him. He reported that one of the women produced a knife, causing him to drop a bottle of cologne he was carrying. The victim alleged the group restrained him and repeatedly punched him in the head, leaving him with blood in his mouth.
Police located and arrested Hampton, Syverson, and Burnett shortly after the incident. The victim later identified all three during a show-up identification procedure, according to court documents.
Authorities stated Burnett was found in possession of a knife when she was arrested.
Investigators reviewed surveillance video that allegedly captured the incident. According to the complaints, the footage showed Syverson striking the victim multiple times while Hampton held him. Hampton allegedly pushed the victim into the street before Burnett approached.
Prosecutors allege Burnett then displayed a knife, grabbed the victim while holding the weapon, and later swung at him while keeping the knife in her other hand. Court documents state Burnett also pointed the knife near the victim's face during the altercation.
The complaints further allege that after the victim dropped his belongings, several individuals at the scene picked up items from the ground. Investigators noted it was unclear whether some of the items collected by Hampton and Syverson belonged to the victim or to others involved in the incident.
The case remains pending in Ramsey County District Court.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.