An early morning shooting and attack that injured three women in the Kensington section of Philadelphia is being investigated as a hate crime.
Police say the suspect shouted homophobic slurs at one of the victims, a transgender woman, before the attack.
It happened around 4:30 a.m. Sunday at a speakeasy-type underground hookah club near East Westmoreland and Rosehill streets.
Investigators say the altercation began inside when the man bumped into the transgender woman and yelled out insults. The altercation turned physical outside.
Philadelphia transgender advocate Deja Alvarez says the attack happened as the women left the club and went to their car after the initial confrontation
"The man waited outside by the car for well over an hour for them to come outside," said Alvarez.
Police say once the three women came outside, the suspect started saying homophobic slurs at the transgender woman and brutally attacked her. It's a key distinction according to District Attorney Larry Krasner.
"Those are the kinds of facts that are very important in determining whether or not the intent of the crime was based was based upon hate," said Krasner.
Alvarez says the victim was pistol-whipped. She was taken to the hospital in critical but stable condition.
The transgender woman's friend and sister, ages 22 and 17, were with her at the time.
Police say one was shot in the arm, and the other was grazed in the head. Both are listed as stable at the hospital.
As of Monday afternoon, police were working to retrieve surveillance video from inside and outside the hookah club. Police hope they will help them identify and catch the suspect.
The attack is one that Alvarez says an untold number of transgender people risk every time they go in public.
"Being a transperson, if you're walking out the street and somebody recognizes that you're trans, you're automatically in danger," said Alvarez, adding that the current political climate seems to have made some people even more bold in their attacks.
The Action News Data Journalism team found that transgender people are four times more likely to experience violent attacks compared to cisgender people.
"No matter how you feel, what religion you believe, no human being should be subjected to this," said Alvarez.
A spokesperson for Mayor Jim Kenney's office released this statement to Action News:
"The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating this heinous incident. Any acts of hate or intolerance are unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Philadelphia. The City's Office of LGBT Affairs is working with partners to remain briefed on this incident and remain available for support."
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information is asked to call 215-686-TIPS.
https://6abc.com/hate-crime-philade...ington-shooting-philly-gun-violence/11953862/ (A)
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