HUMBLE, Texas — A person identified by a witness as a transgender woman was hospitalized after a stabbing at a residence in the Humble area of Harris County, an attack that led to the arrest of a suspect on a felony aggravated assault charge.
Deputies with Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman’s Office responded Aug. 14 to a disturbance at a residence in the 20900 block of Noelle Court, near Lee Road and FM 1960.
According to the constable’s office, deputies investigated the disturbance and determined that a suspect, identified as Jah Ridley, allegedly attacked the victim and stabbed the victim in the neck. Authorities said the victim was transported to a hospital and was expected to survive.
Ridley was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to Precinct 4. At the time of the agency’s announcement, bond had not been set through the 184th District Court. The charge is an allegation, and Ridley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
However, a witness who spoke with Grizzy’s Hood News provided additional details about the victim and the circumstances surrounding the attack that were not included in the initial law enforcement announcement.
The witness, who reportedly manages the property as an Airbnb, identified the victim as a transgender woman and said Ridley had been staying at the residence as a guest. According to the witness’s account, the victim was sleeping when Ridley allegedly began attacking her.
The witness said she was awakened after hearing the victim cry out that she was being stabbed. She alleged that the victim suffered multiple stab wounds during the attack and was subsequently admitted to an intensive care unit.
Those details have not been independently confirmed by the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office. The agency’s initial public statement referred to the victim as a man and specifically reported a stab wound to the neck. The witness, however, identified the victim as a transgender woman and described multiple wounds.
The discrepancy could reflect information available to authorities during the early stages of the investigation, but officials have not publicly clarified the victim’s gender identity. Out of respect for the victim, this report uses the identification provided by the person who said she personally witnessed the incident while making clear where the accounts differ.
There has also been no indication from law enforcement that the alleged attack was motivated by the victim’s gender identity. Without evidence establishing a motive, the stabbing should not be characterized as an anti-transgender hate crime.
What authorities have confirmed is that a serious stabbing occurred at a residence on Noelle Court, a suspect was taken into custody, and the victim survived the initial attack.
The witness’s account raises additional questions about what allegedly happened inside the residence before deputies arrived, including what led to the attack and whether the victim and suspect knew one another before their stay at the property.
As of the latest publicly available information, the victim’s identity has not been released by authorities.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information about the victim’s condition, the circumstances leading up to the stabbing and Ridley’s court proceedings may become available as the case moves forward.
