Washington man pleads guilty to federal hate crime after bus stabbing attack

According to filings in the case, Hernandez-Mayoral made derogatory comments about black people while riding the bus before turning his attention to a black female passenger. Prosecutors said he directed racially offensive remarks at the woman, including referring to her as “Rosa Parks” and telling her to move to the back of the bus.

The victim then walked toward the front of the bus to seek help and call the police, but Hernandez-Mayoral followed her, according to the documents. When the bus stopped, Hernandez-Mayoral allegedly pushed the woman off the bus and assaulted her repeatedly. Authorities said he then pulled out a knife and stabbed at her several times before fleeing.

The woman was wearing a heavy coat, which investigators said helped prevent the knife from puncturing her skin. However, the assault and stabbing attempt caused bodily injury, according to court records. Shortly after the incident, Kent Police located Hernandez-Mayoral hiding under a car, where he was arrested. Hernandez-Mayoral is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Kent Police Department and the FBI, with assistance from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Last week, Seattle police arrested a 25-year-old man after he allegedly punched a Sound Transit bus driver while the bus was stopped in Downtown Seattle.

Recently, local agencies and officials have pointed to an increase in assaults involving transit operators and passengers, as well as ongoing challenges tied to disorder around certain stops and corridors. Many incidents, including the fatal stabbing of King County Metro bus driver Shawn Yim last year, have intensified calls for additional security and enforcement measures across the transit system.