Man held behind bars in Greyhound bus stabbing in Grant County

A Fort Worth, Texas, man is being held without bond on accusations that he attacked a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus crossing the desert late last month.

Ryan Kenny, 29, faces a charge of attempted first-degree murder for what witnesses told police was an unprovoked knife attack as the bus headed west on Interstate 10 through Grant County on Sept. 29.

According to charging documents, the driver of the bus told New Mexico State Police, who responded to an emergency call, that passengers alerted him to the attack and asked him to pull over so passengers could evacuate. Witnesses said Kenny stood up as if making for the bathroom when he fell over the passenger on the opposite side of the center aisle.

According to the police statement, witnesses reported that both men began swinging their arms before it became clear that Kenny was stabbing the other passenger with a black folding knife. Witnesses said the two men had not exchanged words and that the attack seemed to come out of nowhere.

The victim, a 24-year-old college student, received medical treatment in El Paso and survived the attack. He told police “he was sitting down, looking around, when (Kenny) began attacking him,” per the police statement.

At a detention hearing, the victim indicated that after the struggle he was bleeding profusely from his injuries, including to his neck, and was assisted by other passengers before paramedics arrived. He said his assailant sat back down after the attack and said, “I’m done. I’m done. That’s it.”

Kenny was arrested and opted not to give a statement to police, according to the police report. He was initially charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Court records indicate the knife used in the attack was recovered, along with a second knife.

District Court Judge Tom Stewart granted prosecutors’ request to keep Kenny in custody through his trial, which has not yet been scheduled.

District Attorney Norman Wheeler’s office argued that the nature of the attack, which took place in front of multiple witnesses, and Kenny’s lack of local ties indicated he was dangerous and a flight risk. Stewart ruled there were no conditions of release that could keep the community, as well as the victim, safe.

Kenny’s attorney could not be reached Wednesday.