A Washington state man has pleaded guilty to a serious federal hate crime linked to a violent attack on a Black woman using public transport near Seattle.

The accused, Adan Hernandez-Mayoral (24) from Auburn, Washington, entered his guilty plea on December 23 in a U.S. District Court in Seattle, according to federal prosecutors.

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What happened?

The incident took place on March 7, 2024, on a King County Metro bus in Kent, Washington. Court records say Hernandez-Mayoral began shouting racist comments about Black people while riding the bus.

When a Black woman turned around to see who was making the comments, the man yelled at her to look away. He then insulted her further by calling her “Rosa Parks”, referring to the civil rights icon known for standing up against racial segregation.


Attack turned violent

The woman moved to the front of the bus to call the police. Hernandez-Mayoral followed her. When the bus stopped, he pushed her off the bus and lunged at her with a knife, aiming at her stomach several times.

Luckily, the woman was wearing a thick coat, which stopped the knife from breaking her skin. Still, prosecutors confirmed that she suffered bodily injury from the attack.


Arrest and charges

After the attack, police received a call about a suspicious man hiding in a nearby yard. Officers later found Hernandez-Mayoral hiding under a car and arrested him.

He was charged with a federal hate crime involving bodily injury and the use of a dangerous weapon.


What happens next?

Hernandez-Mayoral is scheduled to be sentenced on March 17, 2026. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison.

Federal authorities said this case highlights how hate-fueled violence is treated seriously under U.S. law, especially when it targets people based on race in public spaces.


🧠 Why this case matters

This incident has drawn attention to racial hate crimes on public transport, a concern across many U.S. cities. Officials stress that such acts will be prosecuted strictly to protect public safety and civil rights.

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