An Indiana woman has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery, and slashing the head of an Indiana University student aged 18. The attack was racially motivated according to Indiana University.
Police have confirmed that a witness to the attack on a bus carrying public transport reported the incident last week. The victim, Billie Davis (56 years old), was also reported to the police. According to court records, she was attacked because she was Asian.
James Wimbush (the university’s vice president for diversity) said that Bloomington was reminded this week of the reality that anti-Asian hatred is real. He made these remarks in a Friday statement.
“No person should be subject to harassment or violence because of their heritage, ethnicity or background.”
Reuters was unable to reach the attorney of the suspect immediately, but court records indicate that he is currently being held at the Monroe County Jail.
According to police, the victim claimed she was waiting for the bus doors to open when another passenger started hitting her head. She was taken to the hospital and found that she had suffered head stab injuries.
The victim and the alleged attacker were not seen in the video inside the bus. The student’s identity was not released by authorities.
Bloomington is a town in southern Indiana that has 80,000 residents. It deplores racism and discrimination, John Hamilton, its mayor said on Saturday. He also expressed solidarity with the Asian community.
Local ABC affiliate WRTV reported that the suspect claimed she stabbed her victim because “it would be one less person for us to bomb our country.”
In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, violence and harassment targeting Asian communities has increased in America in recent years.
