HOUSTON — A teen is recovering after being stabbed while she was getting off a METRO bus and her attorney is now hoping to see the charges against the man accused in the stabbing upgraded to a hate crime.
Joseph Fuerborn is in custody and is charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon while 18-year-old high school student Rue is recovering after being stabbed three times, one of which punctured her lungs.
Rue and her attorney, Kevin Murray, don’t believe the current charges are enough.
Rue is transgender and has dreams of becoming a fashion designer, but her dreams were recently nearly cut short. Her attorney said she was just trying to get where she was going when she was robbed and stabbed.
It happened on Dec. 22 while she was using public transportation.
RELATED: HPD: Woman stabbed multiple times while exiting METRO bus
“I thought I was going to become one of those, like, my worst fears to ever come true,” Rue said.
Murray said Fuerborn stabbed her when they both of off the bus near Shepherd and Memorial. Houston police said Rue let Fuerborn make a call using her phone. When she asked for it back, that’s when Murray said Fuerborn refused and attacked his client.
“She didn’t do anything in any way to have this attacker violate her person and stab her three times,” Murray said.
With a suspect description, Houston police quickly tracked Fuerborn down and took him into custody. Investigators said they found a knife on him.
For Rue, instead of spending the holidays with family, she spent them in the hospital.
“I thought my life was going to end before I ever got a chance to get started,” she said.
The new Harris County District Attorney’s Office will now decide if Fuerborn’s intent and mindset call for hate crime charges.
Advocacy groups are rallying around Rue and said violence against Black transgender women is spiking.
“I’m very, very thankful that Rue is still here with us today. Unfortunately, violence like this is something that we see all too commonly,” Houston LGBTQ Political Caucus’ Austin Davis-Ruiz said.
A rally is being held for Rue on Saturday morning at Emancipation Park.
Fuerborn’s attorney didn’t respond to a request for a comment.