A violent stabbing on a METRO bus in Houston is currently under investigation as a possible hate crime, following an attack that occurred early Saturday near Westheimer and Tanglewilde. The suspect, identified as Edward Scott, reportedly stabbed a woman several times in the back without any provocation. According to information from CW39, prosecutors have added a "hate charge" enhancement due to Scott’s admission that his motive was to kill all Mexicans.
Edward Scott's long record of criminal and mental health issues has come to light as investigators dig deeper into the stabbing. Scott, who is 66, remains in custody with a bond set at half a million dollars. He is currently being held at the Harris County Jail following the incident, where he is accused of targeting the woman based on her racial identity. ABC13 reports that when officers detained Scott, he yelled out his desire to "kill all Mexicans" and inquired about the location of the victim to "finish her off."
The victim, who was en route to her job as a house cleaner, described the harrowing event: "I was going to work when he got on the bus," she said. "He quickly stabbed me, and I ran to the front of the bus," as reported by ABC13. The woman further explained that Scott fled the bus immediately after the attack and the bus driver acted quickly to close the doors behind him. Despite the violent encounter, the victim is now recovering from her injuries at a friend's home, showing wounds that needed multiple stitches.
While Scott's mental health history seems to to play a significant role in his defense, the gravity of his actions remains clear. Court records indicate that Scott has been found incompetent to stand trial on previous charges and was sent to a mental hospital at one point, with no clarity on his release date from the institution. The victim in this case noted, "Maybe he was crazy. But also, if he does hate Mexicans, I can see why he did what he did," as stated by ABC13. Prosecutors revealed that a 12-inch knife, which was used in the assault, has been recovered.
As the community reels from the attack, Scott waits for his upcoming court hearing on Tuesday and is scheduled for a mental health evaluation. The investigation is ongoing, with officials working to both address the immediate threat and understand the broader societal implications that may have contributed to such a targeted act of violence.
