Man pleads guilty to racially motivated bus stabbing in Washington
A federal hate crime case in Washington state has moved forward after a man pleaded guilty to a violent attack on a public bus fueled by racial hatred. The incident occurred in March 2024 and involved a female passenger who was targeted because she is black. Federal officials said the guilty plea confirms that race was behind the attack.
Court records state that Aidan C. Hernandez was riding a Mayoral King County Metro bus when he began making offensive and derogatory comments about black people. Other passengers were present when the comments were made. The situation escalated when Hernandez-Mural began yelling directly at the victim. He used racial slurs and mocked her by calling her “Rosa Parks”, while also telling her to move to the back of the bus. These statements echoed painful moments in American history and were intended to intimidate and mislead.
The victim tried to remove himself from the situation and walked to the front of the bus to get help and call the police. Instead of stopping, Hernandez’s mural came after him. When the bus stopped, he threw the woman from the vehicle. Outside the bus, the attack turned more violent. Hernandez Mural repeatedly hit the woman and then pulled a knife and stabbed her multiple times.
Authorities said the woman avoided life-threatening injuries only because she was wearing a heavy coat, which prevented the knife from piercing her skin. Nevertheless, the attack caused physical injuries and severe emotional distress. After the attack, Hernandez-Mural fled on foot. Police officers from the Kent Police Department quickly responded and found him hiding under a parked car. He was arrested soon after.
Federal prosecutors charged Hernandez-Mural with a hate crime, saying the attack was motivated by racial bias and was intended to harm and threaten the victim because of his race. By pleading guilty, Hernandez-Mural accepted responsibility for the crime and the motivation behind it. Officials said the request sends a clear message that hate-motivated violence will be treated seriously under federal law.
The case was announced by leaders of the Justice Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, and the Seattle Field Office of the FBI. FBI investigators worked closely with local police, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office assisted throughout the investigation. That cooperation allowed authorities to bring federal charges that reflected the seriousness of the crime.
Hernandez-Mural is scheduled to be sentenced in March 2026. He faces up to ten years in prison. The judge will determine the final sentence after reviewing the facts of the case, the impact on the victim and the federal sentencing rules.
Officials emphasized that hate crimes harm not only the individual victim but also the wider community. Acts of racial violence create fear and division, especially in public spaces, such as public transportation. Federal officials said enforcement of civil rights laws remains a priority, and cases like this underscore the role of federal law in protecting people from targeted violence.
Prosecutors handling the bus hate crime case said public cooperation and quick police response were key factors in achieving an arrest. He also encouraged victims and witnesses of hate-based violence to report incidents so that perpetrators can be held accountable. The guilty plea closes a chapter in the case, but an upcoming sentencing hearing will determine the punishment for the attack that officials have described as both brutal and motivated by racial hatred.
Sources:
Washington man pleads guilty to hate crime charge after stabbing Metro bus passenger
Kent hate crime suspect pleads not guilty
