Texas man with lengthy criminal record arrested after alleged bus stabbing linked to Bible discussion

A Texas man with a lengthy criminal history was arrested after allegedly stabbing two bus riders after he reportedly became irritated with their discussion about the Holy Bible.

The incident occurred on March 13 around 1:30 p.m. Central time in the 2000 block of South Lamar Boulevard, where officers responded to reports of a stabbing and detained the suspect at the scene, according to the Austin Police Department. 

The suspect, later identified as 52-year-old Rogerio Martinez Jr., was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, both second-degree felonies.

A witness and the victims told investigators that they had boarded the bus together and were discussing the Bible when Martinez stabbed the victim in the back, according to NBC affiliate KXAN-TV in Austin.

A separate passenger then attempted to intervene, resulting in that person also being stabbed.

Witnesses described the weapon as a “full-sized kitchen knife” and officers recovered a matching knife with blood on it at the scene, KXAN reported.

Both victims remained hospitalized as of Monday, according to the outlet. One sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while the other suffered critical injuries but was reported in stable condition.

Martinez was taken to a hospital for evaluation before being booked into the Travis County Jail, where he is being held on a $200,000 bond, according to court records. He’s expected back in court on April 9.

Between 2002 and 2024, Martinez was arrested six times in the state of Texas, KXAN reported. He has faced charges ranging from DWI and assault to aggravated robbery, including a conviction in March 2003 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The stabbing has renewed safety concerns on the CapMetro system, which met last month to discuss implementing new safety initiatives in response to two bus stabbings within a week in late January. 

CapMetro also faces a lawsuit from the family of a man who was stabbed in an unprovoked attack while riding a CapMetro bus in Austin in May 2025. The family of Akshay Gupta alleges the bus operator allowed the man suspected of killing Gupta onto a CapMetro bus without paying the fare.