An Indiana woman was sentenced Wednesday to 72 months in prison and three years of supervised release for committing a federal hate crime.
On September 17, Billie Davis, 57, pleaded guilty to willfully causing bodily injury to a victim, identified in court papers only by her initials, Z.F., through the use of a dangerous weapon (a knife), because of Z.F.’s actual and perceived race and national origin.
“Racially motivated violence has no place in our society,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
This defendant pulled out a knife and viciously attacked a young woman who was simply riding a public bus to school, seriously injuring her because she was of Chinese descent, said Clarke.
“The FBI remains committed to protecting the civil rights of all individuals and this case should serve as a reminder that hate fueled actions will not be tolerated,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert “Alex” Middleton of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and ensure those who perpetrate such acts of hate are held accountable.”
According to documents filed in connection with this case, on January 11, 2023, Z.F., a woman of Chinese descent enrolled at Indiana University at Bloomington, was riding a Bloomington Transit bus on her way to school.
Davis boarded the bus, sitting behind Z.F. As Z.F. stood to exit the bus at her stop, Davis reached for a folding knife from inside her pocket and stabbed Z.F. in the head approximately seven to 10 times.
Davis later admitted to the police that she attacked Z.F. because she was Chinese and because Davis believed Z.F. was the “enemy.” Davis used racist slurs when referring to Z.F.
