NEW YORK – A passenger on a Brooklyn bus apparently became angry when the driver told him he didn’t have a valid fare card.  The passenger stabbed the driver, who died a short time later at a hospital.

Police identify the driver as Edwin Thomas, 46. 

Police are offering a $12,000 reward for information leading to capture of the assailant, who fled after the stabbing. 

“Edwin Thomas was a good man who was good at his job of helping move New York City”, said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “I spoke this afternoon with his son Jeffrey and expressed my deep sympathies to him and his family. I also spoke with Roger Toussaint, Edwin’s union president, and asked him to pass along my thanks to all of Edwin’s co-workers for the outstanding service they give to our City every day. While the investigation into this stabbing is ongoing, an attack like this is so shocking in part because it has become so rare in our City.

 “The fatal attack on MTA NYC Transit Bus Operator Edwin Thomas, a seven-year veteran assigned to Flatbush Depot, shocked and saddened us today”, said Gov. David Paterson.