New York Police are searching for three young men wanted for questioning in connection to a transphobic attack that left a Brooklyn trans woman with a fractured nose and eye socket earlier this month.
The three suspects are all African-American men, estimated to be between 17 and 23 years old, according to New York news station WCBS-TV. One suspect had tattoo under his eye, reports the local station. One of the three suspects was last seen wearing a grey Nike shirt with red sleeves, another wore a navy blue jacket with a bright blue Adidas t-shirt, while the suspect with a bald head was wearing a denim jacket.
The attack took place around 11:30 p.m. on March 13 in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood, when a 32-year-old transgender woman was leaving the subway. The victim, who has not been publicly identified, told local media and police she was suddenly approached by a man she did not know on Ninth Street, then surrounded by as many as four other men. The first man began hitting her, while shouting antigay slurs called her a slur as she tried to get away. She felt her hair being pulled and then was pummeled by fists in every direction. After the beating, the men took off running, and the woman walked herself to a nearby hospital.
Police are investigating the attack as a possible anti-LGBT hate crime.
Transgender women -- especially black and brown trans individuals -- experience a disproportionate rate of targeted violence, even when compared to others in the LGBT community. This year alone, at least 12 transgender people have been killed in the United States. The majority of those killed in the U.S. each year are black trans women. Last year was the deadliest on record for transgender Americans, with at least 21 trans women killed in the U.S.
Just last month, the killer of black trans woman Islan Nettles -- beaten to death three years ago in Harlem -- was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Anyone with information related to the attack is asked to contact NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, or (888) 57-PISTA for Spanish. Alternately, tips can be provided through the Crime Stoppers website, or via text message to 274637 (CRIMES), along with the phrase TIP577.
Watch WCBS's report on the suspects below.
