A 25-year-old Auburn, Washington, man was sentenced on June 2 to 54 months in prison for a federal hate crime after violently assaulting and stabbing a Black female passenger because of her race, according to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Adan Hernandez-Mayoral received the sentence for using a knife to cause bodily injury during an incident on a King County Metro bus.
U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said, “The facts of what happened on that bus are despicable. It was a prolonged intentional assault on a Black woman…. We need to protect the public from this defendant.” Floyd said, “Racially motivated attacks such as this one shock the conscience of our community. This office will join with our state and local partners to ensure these crimes are investigated and those who commit them will be held accountable. Such hate has no place here.”
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, “Today, we have delivered justice with the sentencing of Adan Hernandez-Mayoral for his brutal, racially motivated attack on the victim. Assaults like these destroy our communities by breeding fear and distrust of public places and facilities. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute such cases to restore safety and confidence in our cities’ streets and transit systems.”
According to court documents, Hernandez-Mayoral boarded a Metro bus on March 7, 2024, made racist comments about Black people—including yelling at the victim—and followed her when she tried to move away from him while hiding a knife behind his back. When the bus stopped, he pushed her off into a fence before beating her all over her body and repeatedly stabbing her with a knife; however, her thick coat prevented serious injuries. He fled but was arrested later that evening by Kent Police officers.
Chief Rafael Padilla of the Kent Police Department said, “This was a horrific and deeply disturbing racially motivated assault that targeted an innocent member of our community because of the color of her skin… Hate-fueled violence has no place in Kent.” W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Seattle field office, added, “Together with our partners such as the Kent Police Department, the FBI will hold accountable those like Mr. Hernandez-Mayoral who engage in violent hate crimes.”
On December 23, 2025, Hernandez-Mayoral pleaded guilty to Hate Crime Causing Bodily Injury; restitution is still pending determination.
The case was investigated by both Kent Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Manca for Western District of Washington alongside Trial Attorney Tenette Smith from Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division—with support from King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington promotes community safety through programs addressing gun violence and online threats; operates offices in Seattle and Tacoma; is part of the U.S. Department of Justice; includes about 85 attorneys and 70 support staff; handles federal prosecutions and civil litigation; covers areas including Seattle and Tacoma, according to the official website.