Milwaukee residents have expressed a growing fear of using public transportation as the city’s violent crime wave hit the Milwaukee County Transit System, or MCTS,

Alex Escobedo, 17, shared his experience with crime on Milwaukee’s bus system as the Teens Grow Teens internship program was touring the city.

Escobedo said that as the tour group was preparing to head home on an MCTS bus, an assailant punched him in the face unprovoked. The July 28th assault left Escobedo rattled, with him and his mother saying that they will seek other safer transit options.

“He ended up punching me so hard, the screw on my eyebrow (ring) fell off, and I had to get a longer extender for my lip piercing because of how swollen my lip was,” Escobedo said.

The violent act is just the latest crime that has residents concerned about public safety and has prompted involvement from the federal government. Residents and state legislators in Madison have expressed dismay at the city’s inability to reach a contract agreement with the Milwaukee Policy Department.

Other interns present on the trip such as Aniyah Gehrt said that they will now also be extra cautious when taking public transportation in Wisconsin’s largest city. (RELATED: Milwaukee Police Employee Charged with Election Fraud)

“It’s a little nerve-racking,” Gehrt said. I don’t know what might happen; anybody can do anything, but it’s my only way of transportation right now.”

While overall crime is reportedly down in Milwaukee, murders and some other violent categories of crime have continued to increase this year.

County officials said that they are ‘continuously evaluating’ ways to address public safety concerns on public transit.

“It’s essential for transit authorities and local governments to continuously evaluate safety protocols, increase visible presence on routes commonly used by students, and enhance surveillance and reporting systems,” said County Supervisor Coggs-Jones in a statement. (RELATED: Federal Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss in Hannah Dugan ICE Case)