A lawyer representing an 18-year-old Black transgender high school student who was stabbed in a violent attack on a METRO bus in Houston is demanding that the suspect be charged with a hate crime. The victim, identified only by her first name, Rue, was attacked on December 22, 2024, as she got off the bus in broad daylight.
According to local reports, Rue was approached by a man, later identified as 26-year-old Joseph Fuerborn, who asked to use her phone to make a call. Rue agreed, but when she asked for the phone back, Fuerborn reportedly refused and became violent. He allegedly stabbed Rue three times, puncturing her lung, before fleeing the scene.
Assailant Arrested, Charges Pending
Fuerborn was quickly apprehended by law enforcement, with the knife used in the attack still in his possession. He has been charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, a charge linked to another armed robbery he was allegedly involved in. Despite these charges, Rue’s attorney, Kevin Murray, is pushing for Fuerborn’s charges to be upgraded to include a hate crime.
“She didn’t do anything to provoke this attack,” Murray said. “This was an unprovoked assault that appears to be rooted in transphobia. We believe this should be considered a hate crime.”
While the suspect is in custody, the decision on whether to pursue hate crime charges will ultimately be made by the office of Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare.
Victim Speaks Out
Rue, who has dreams of becoming a fashion designer, spoke publicly for the first time on January 3, 2025, outside the Harris County Criminal Courts Building. She recounted her terrifying ordeal, revealing how she feared for her life during the attack.
“I thought I was going to become one of those — like my worst fears ever come true,” Rue said. “I thought my life was going to end before I even got to start it.”
Rue spent the holiday season recovering in the hospital from her injuries, which included a punctured lung. She continues to undergo medical treatment, but she says the emotional toll of the attack is significant. Despite this, Rue expressed her desire to stay involved in the community and advocate for trans rights going forward.
“I just hope to be more safe,” Rue added in an interview with KHOU. “I want people to know that we aren’t here to harm anyone, and I just want people to stop harming us.”
Concerns Over Rising Violence Against Transgender People
The incident has brought renewed attention to the alarming trend of violence against transgender individuals, particularly Black trans women. Local LGBTQ+ advocates, including representatives from the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus, have condemned the attack and called for stronger protections for the trans community.
“At the heart of this incident is a broader, more dangerous issue: the rising violence against transgender people,” said Austin Ruiz, a spokesperson for the Houston LGBTQ+ Political Caucus. “We cannot ignore that Black trans women are particularly at risk, and incidents like this are a painful reminder of the need for stronger protections and greater awareness.”
Data compiled by the Transgender Law Center shows that Black trans women are disproportionately affected by violence. In Texas, 57% of all reported victims of fatal anti-trans violence between 2017 and 2020 were Black, a statistic that highlights the ongoing danger faced by this community.
The Human Rights Campaign’s 2024 report on violence against transgender and gender-expansive individuals declared a “national state of emergency” due to the rising rates of violence. Texas, in particular, has been identified as the state with the highest number of incidents of fatal anti-trans violence in the U.S., partly due to the state’s contentious anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The report also noted that Black trans women make up more than 60% of all victims of fatal anti-trans violence across the country since 2013.
Ongoing Advocacy and Support
In response to the attack, local advocates and activists have organized rallies and events to raise awareness about the violence faced by transgender people. Rue herself attended a rally on January 4, where she called for more safety measures and urged the community to support trans individuals rather than attack them.
“I hope to be more involved in the fight for trans rights,” Rue said at the rally. “We need to stand up for ourselves and make sure people know we have a right to live without fear.”
While Rue’s recovery continues, her experience has galvanized local support for stronger protections and greater public education on the issues facing the transgender community. Activists are urging lawmakers to address the growing climate of violence against transgender people, particularly in Texas, where the legal and political landscape continues to become increasingly hostile toward the LGBTQ+ community.
As Rue’s case unfolds, her lawyer and advocates are calling for justice, with hopes that the incident will spark wider conversations on the need for reform and protections for the most vulnerable members of society.
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