Police release video, photos of suspects in attack on D.C. trans woman
D.C. police on Friday released a crystal clear video showing four suspects they believe were among seven young men that attacked, assaulted, and robbed a transgender woman in two locations on or near the 3800 block of Minnesota Ave., N.E. about 3:20 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 2.
The victim, Alicia Love Wood, told the Washington Blade she was first attacked by a group of seven young men who knocked her down and took her purse after calling her “tranny,” “he-she,” and “faggot” on a side street just off Minnesota Avenue.
After getting up and running across Minnesota Avenue to a Citgo gas station seeking help, three of the suspects chased her into a small convenience store at the gas station where she pleaded with the cashier sitting inside an enclosed booth to let her in. She said the cashier declined to do so.
“And they started to punch me and beat me up and they took my fanny pack and they took my phone and everything,” she told the Blade. Among the items in her fanny pack or belt bag was $300 in cash, according to a police report of the incident.
She said the attacks occurred shortly after she got off work at the DC Eagle gay bar located about three blocks away.
The video released by police on Friday shows three of the young men slowly entering the small convenience store at the gas station and walking toward Wood, who was off camera. The video also shows a fourth young man that police are identifying as another suspect in the case who is seen outside looking into the store through a large glass window.
“Anyone who can identify these individuals or who has knowledge of this incident should take no action but call police at 202-272-9099 or text your tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411,” a statement released by police on Friday says.
“Crime Solvers of Washington, D.C. currently offers a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for a crime committed in the District of Columbia,” the police statement says.
“The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating this offense as potentially being motivated by hate or bias,” the statement continues. It says the department’s Special Liaison Branch, which includes the police LGBT Liaison Unit, is assisting with the investigation.
Police have listed the incident as an offense of robbery by force or violence, possibly hate motivated.
Published at Fri, 09 Aug 2019 23:09:09 +0000