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Thursday, June 12, 2008

King County Files Hate Crime Charges Against Man Who Assaulted Blind Woman on Bus

posted by on June 12 at 16:27 PM

The King County Prosecutor’s office has filed malicious harassment charges against a man who attacked a blind woman on a Metro bus. Last month, David Schmader wrote about the incident in Last Days and on Slog:

SUNDAY, MAY 18 The week ends with an extraordinary tale of “religion gone bad and valiant community spirit” from that inexhaustible forum for freakery known as King County Metro, reported by heroic Hot Tipper Oscar. “I was riding the 18 headed downtown, when out of the corner of my eye I saw some movement. When I turned to look, I saw a man repeatedly hitting a blind woman seated at the front of the bus. An older gentleman seated next to the woman jumped up and tried to intervene, but a quick punch to the head knocked him back down into his seat. Once I realized that what I was seeing was real, I rushed the assailant and grabbed him by the arms while he yelled at me to ‘keep out of this. You got no idea what’s really happening here’ and the woman cowered and covered her head. He kept screaming about ‘being filled with the power of God’ and threatening to kill me for stopping him from doing God’s work. Three other passengers helped me hold him while another rider called 911. Another passenger was assisting the assaulted woman, who’d been hit so hard she was bleeding. The police arrived and apprehended the attacker, then took all of our names. While one young lady was telling her story, I heard her say that when the assailant got on the bus he saw the blind woman and said, ‘God says all sick people must die,’ then started hitting her. [Confidential to the psychotic assailant: Blind people aren’t sick, and all people must die. Back to Oscar:] The assaulted woman was checked by paramedics and declared physically okay, except for scratches and bruising, then got a ride home from a fire marshal. Thanks to all my fellow Metro riders who pitched in and stood up for someone unable to defend herself.”

According to court records, Nguy Lamont Hughs, 34, got on the bus, turned to the blind woman and said “the sick must die.” Records say Hughs “savagely beat” the woman, punching her 6-8 times.

A man sitting next to the woman stood up and said, “You don’t hit a blind woman,” to which Hughs responded, “God told me to kill her, don’t get in my way or I’ll have to punish you.”

The man then started punching Hughs, and other passengers helped restrain him until police arrived. The entire incident was captured on video.

Court records indicate Hughs has been arrested four times since July 2007—for theft, criminal trespass, property destruction and assault—but has not been charged.

Hughs is undergoing psychiatric evaluation at Western State Hospital.

RSS icon Comments

1

Kudos to all who jumped in to help the lady. Glad to hear her physical injuries weren't as bad as they could have been; and here's to a speedy recovery from the psychological trauma.

Now, am I a terrible person for wanting to see the video?

Posted by mattymatt | June 12, 2008 4:42 PM
2

Blind people aren't sick, but the attacker clearly is. I believe he already has his answer...

Posted by Dougsf | June 12, 2008 4:44 PM
3

MFer is crazy. what's the point of the hate crime charges? He's not guilty by reason of schizophrenia.

Seattle is a schizophrenic magnet. Why don't they all want to go to Spokane or Boise? It's nice & warm there.

Posted by max solomon | June 12, 2008 4:46 PM
4

There will be a mistrial when the jury won't be able to determine his intent while he was beating the shit of this poor blind lady.

Posted by Westside forever | June 12, 2008 4:48 PM
5

What is the meaning of "savagely"? Can someone give us a definition of "beaten"? Is he really responsible for hitting her? Isn't his fist really the responsible party? And not even his whole fist; just the surface part that contacted her face. And should this jury even try to decide what God wants?

Posted by elenchos | June 12, 2008 4:53 PM
6

#3 I agree about the hate crime charge being unnecessary. Maybe additional crazy-motherfucker charges are in order, but seriously get this guy on his meds and chances are he'll be fairly docile.

Posted by It's Mark Mitchell | June 12, 2008 5:17 PM
7

Is it easier to force psychiatric help when charges are filed?

Posted by keshmeshi | June 12, 2008 5:19 PM
8

Why not let a jury decide if the hate crimes charge was necessary?

It might be - or it might not - we don't have access to all the evidence, just the distorted MSM view of it.

Unless you were there ...

Posted by Will in Seattle | June 12, 2008 5:30 PM
9

This guy will get placed back in the hospital, he'll get out in a few years, get off his meds, do the same thing. Eventually he'll seriously hurt or kill someone.

Wanna bet this isn't this guy's first time through the system?

Posted by jim | June 12, 2008 5:47 PM
10

@8:

Maybe I don't understand... but, won't the jury decide in regards to the hate crimes statute with their VERDICT? Surely if they don't decide to find him guilty of that, they'll consider finding him guilty of lesser charges.

But that, of course, means we have to have faith in our justice system. Mine's running a bit thin these days.

Posted by James | June 12, 2008 7:30 PM
11

Oscar really is heroic.

I hope the blind woman was not badly hurt. I also hope they put this psycho away for a long time.

Posted by miss_m | June 12, 2008 7:44 PM
12

I don't want to see the video. But I do feel bad for wanting to see the death penalty.

Posted by Boomer in NYC | June 12, 2008 7:48 PM
13

Will, think before you type.

Posted by Jonah s | June 12, 2008 8:03 PM
14

God says we should kill the schizos.

Posted by Sirkowski | June 13, 2008 12:30 AM
15

Hey, Jonah?

Was this guy about 5' 4" to 5' 6", olive skinned, Mediterranean features, rich baritone voice?

Fellow of that description was bellowing about God at the 3rd Ave./Seneca bus stop, this morning, and aggressively approaching folks waiting for their bus. He had a hospital ID bracelet on...

Posted by dafydd | June 13, 2008 8:11 AM
16

How disturbing, this is the sort of thing you expect godless immoral atheists to do, but a Christian, unheard of!

Posted by K | June 13, 2008 10:02 AM
17

How come there's no mention of this in the local newspapers?

I mean, there's plenty on the Asian lady bus stop groper, but nothing on the blind lady bus attacker?

Note to gropers: Remember to insist God told you to do it.

Posted by K | June 13, 2008 10:08 AM

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