Man sentenced to life for hate crime stabbing aboard Los Angeles bus

Aug. 6 (UPI) — A man who stabbed and tried to kill another p***enger during the commission of a hate crime aboard a Los Angeles bus in 2023 was sentenced to life in prison plus seven years on Thursday.

Gerald Pitts, 67, was found guilty of attempted murder of Santos Tejas Gonzalez in June and on Thursday was handed the lengthy sentence in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Gonzalez survived the ***ault aboard the Los Angeles Metro bus.

“Gerald Pitts attacked a complete stranger because of his race or perceived race, repeatedly stabbed him, and kept attacking him even after the victim fell from the bus,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement.

“We’re grateful the victim survived and relieved that he is continuing to recover. This kind of violence is exactly what hate crime laws are meant to address.”

Prosecutors said Gonzalez tried to move past Pitts on the bus to get to a seat. Pitts then yelled racial slurs at Gonzalez.

Surveillance video on the bus showed Gonzalez falling while trying to leave the bus with what appeared to be a knife in his face. Pitts was seen grabbing the knife and striking Gonzalez as he tried to escape through the rear door.

After Gonzalez fell from the bus, Pitts continued yelling racial slurs while kicking him in the head.

Gonzalez is continuing to recover from his injuries, Hochman said.