A Washington man pleaded guilty today to a federal hate crime charge for violently assaulting and stabbing a black female bus passenger because of her race.
According to records filed in the case, on March 7, 2024, Adan C. Hernandez-Mayoral made derogatory comments about black people while he was riding a King County Metro bus. Hernandez-Mayoral then yelled at another passenger on the bus, and made racially derogatory comments directed at the victim, including referring to the woman as “Rosa Parks” and telling her to move to the back of the bus.
The woman walked to the front of the bus to try to get help and call the police, but Hernandez-Mayoral followed her. When the bus stopped, Hernandez-Mayoral pushed the woman off the bus and repeatedly assaulted her. He then pulled out a knife and stabbed at the victim numerous times before running away. Fortunately, the victim was wearing a heavy coat that prevented the knife from puncturing her skin, but the assault and stabbing caused bodily injury to the victim. Shortly after the assault, Kent Police located Hernandez-Mayoral hiding under a car, where he was then arrested.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Charles Neil of the Western District of Washington, and FBI Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington of the of the FBI Seattle Field Office made the announcement.
Hernandez-Mayoral is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17, 2026. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Kent Police Department and the FBI, with the cooperation and support of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Tenette Smith of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica M. Manca for the Western District of Washington.