LOS ANGELES — Gerald Pitts has been sentenced to life plus seven years in state prison, with the possibility of parole, for the attempted murder of Santos Tejas Gonzalez during a hate-motivated attack aboard a Metro bus.

The attack occurred on the evening of March 25, 2023. As Gonzalez boarded the bus and attempted to take a seat, Pitts began shouting racial slurs at him. Gonzalez tried to leave the bus near Western Avenue and Exposition Boulevard to avoid further confrontation, but Pitts stabbed him multiple times in the abdomen, arm, hand and face.

After Gonzalez fell from the bus, Pitts continued kicking him in the head while shouting racial slurs. Gonzalez suffered life-threatening injuries but survived and continues to recover.

A jury convicted Pitts of attempted murder and found that the attack was willful, deliberate and premeditated. Jurors also determined that Pitts used a knife, inflicted great bodily injury and targeted the victim because of his actual or perceived nationality, race or ethnicity, making the offense a hate crime.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said hate crimes harm not only individual victims but also intimidate entire communities and undermine public trust. He emphasized that bias-motivated violence will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Anyone witnessing or experiencing a hate crime should call 911 in an emergency. Support is also available by calling 211 for LA vs. Hate or the statewide CA vs. Hate hotline at (833) 866-4283.