A 25-year-old Auburn man has been sentenced to four and a half years in federal prison after admitting to a racially motivated attack on a Black woman aboard a public transit bus in 2024.
Adan Hernandez-Mayoral was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to a federal hate crime charge. Prosecutors said he assaulted the woman because of her race and used a knife during the attack.
According to court records, the incident happened on March 7, 2024, while Hernandez-Mayoral was riding a King County Metro bus. Witnesses reported that he began making racist remarks shortly after boarding and directed several offensive comments toward a Black female passenger.
As the bus continued its route, Hernandez-Mayoral allegedly followed the woman when she attempted to move away from him. When the bus stopped and its doors opened, he grabbed her and forced her off the bus before assaulting her.
Investigators said the victim was pushed into a fence, punched and kicked multiple times, and stabbed repeatedly with a knife. Authorities noted that the woman avoided more severe injuries because she was wearing a thick coat.
Following the attack, Hernandez-Mayoral fled the area. Police later located him after receiving a report of a suspicious person hiding in a residential yard. Officers found him hiding underneath a vehicle near the scene and took him into custody.
In December 2025, Hernandez-Mayoral pleaded guilty, admitting that he intentionally assaulted the woman because of her race and used a dangerous weapon during the attack.
Federal officials said the case highlights the serious consequences of hate-motivated violence and the impact such crimes have on victims and communities.
The victim survived the attack and the case has now concluded with Hernandez-Mayoral’s federal prison sentence.
