Man Attacked on Cap Metro Bus, Possible Hate Crime

Another Capital Metro bus rider was severely assaulted last Friday afternoon in North Austin, and this time there's reason to believe that the attack may have been a targeted hate crime.

Openly gay Austinite Jason Daley, 30, was riding aboard bus number 339 in North Austin when another man punched him in the face, allegedly because he had issues with Daley's sexual orientation. Daley was rendered temporarily unconscious.

"The next thing I know I'm coming to and I have blood and glass all in my eyes and the bus driver is still driving," said Daley to KVUE News.

The suspect is described as a black male in his mid 20s. Unfortunately, the bus was not equipped with a security camera—only about 25% of Capital Metro's fleet have them installed—though Capital Metro spokesman Adam Shavaitz told KVUE, "if there are incidents reported and the need arises what we'll do is increase our security on certain routes."

Conflicting reports make it unclear whether the bus driver immediately stopped the vehicle after the assault or kept going along the intended route. In either case, the assailant managed to get off the bus without interference.

The case has now been picked up by Equality Texas, who are working to ensure that the attacker is prosecuted under the state's Hate Crime Act.