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Transgender Woman Critical After Brutal Anti-Gay Attack In Bushwick
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Oct 15, 2014
Modified Oct 15, 2014
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NYPD
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Oct 15, 2014
Modified Oct 15, 2014
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A 28-year-old transgender woman is in critical condition after she was assaulted by a group of men in Bushwick over the weekend, and cops say they are investigating the attack as a hate crime.
The NYPD says the victim was in front of 1250 Bushwick Avenue near Weirfield Street at around 11:20 p.m. on October 12th when she was approached from behind by four men. They then allegedly made anti-gay statements and began to punch and kick her.
Cops say one of the suspects threw a piece of Plexiglas at the victim, which struck her in the head and seriously injured her. She was transported to Elmhurst Hospital, where she is currently in critical condition. The NYPD has not yet made any arrests, and the Hate Crimes Task Force is currently investigating the attack.
According to Gay City News, the victim has frequented the organization New Alternatives for Homeless LGBT Youth. The group's executive director, Kate Barnhart, told the publication that the victim had been walking with a gay friend when she was approached by the men, and that they called her a "faggot" before they began beating her. Banhart noted that while the victim is in stable condition, doctors do not know if she will sustain any permanent brain damage.
Just last month, three men were arrested in connection with the shooting of a 22-year-old gay man in Bushwick. The victim—who was "dressed like a woman," according to the Daily News—was walking with a friend near Putnam Avenue and Broadway on September 27th when he was allegedly chased by and then shot by suspects Cody Sigue, 22, Matthew Smith, 21, and Tavon Johnson, 17.
And earlier this week, a Crown Heights man was hit in the head with a hammer by a suspect who was also allegedly directed anti-gay slurs at him.
The suspects in this weekend's incident are described as four black males, one wearing a gray sleeveless sweatshirt with the word "Freedom" on it, along with a dark long sleeve shirt, gray sweatpants, white sneakers and ski cap. A second suspect is described as having close-cut hair, wearing a blue Nike hooded sweatshirt with blue sweatpants. Cops were able to capture two of the suspects on surveillance video:
Bushwick Attack from Gothamist on Vimeo.
Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers Website or texting their tips to 274637(CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
Tagged
anti gay attack
brooklyn
bushwick
hate crime
transgender
Rebecca Fishbein
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