Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Brooklyn Man Gets 20 Years For Attacking Transgender Woman With Plexiglass
By
Emma Whitford
Published Jan 14, 2016
Modified Jan 14, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Emma Whitford
Published Jan 14, 2016
Modified Jan 14, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A 26-year-old Brooklyn man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for striking a transgender woman in the head with a 2x4 piece of Plexiglass on a Bushwick street in October, 2014.
The defendant, Mashawn Sonds of Brownsville, was convicted of first-degree assault as a hate crime in December. His conviction was the first by the Brooklyn DA’s Hate Crimes Unit, founded in 2015 as part of the District Attorney’s Civil Rights Bureau.
The victim, 29-year-old Kimball Hartman, was in front of 1250 Bushwick Avenue near Weirfield Street at around 11:20 p.m. on October 12, 2014 when she was approached from behind by four men who made anti-gay statements and began to punch and kick her.
Hartman was walking with a gay male friend when she was attacked, according to the DA's office. Sonds and his companions approached them making homophobic comments like, "We don't want fags in our neighborhood."
Sonds then swung a piece of Plexiglas at Hartman, and proceeded to throw it at her head when she tried to get away, seriously injuring her. She was transported to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition. Hartman ultimately sustained traumatic brain injury and underwent surgery.
At trial in December, Sonds's attorney maintained that his client was innocent, and was not present when Hartman was attacked. "It was an argument that got out of control and then expanded into the gay-type situation," he reportedly said of the attack itself, challenging the hate crime classification.
A month after the 2014 incident, Hartman told the Daily News that she had no plans to move out of the neighborhood where she was attacked. "I just want to live a normal life like everyone else has," she said. "I don't like people who are weak getting hurt by people who are stronger than them. I think it's bad."
Tagged
anti gay
attack
brooklyn
bushwick
hate crime
transgender
Emma Whitford
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island fire injures two, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 10:34 a.m. ET
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
News
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD searching for 'person of interest' in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .