Police say a transgender woman was beaten and bloodied inside a Capitol Hill restaurant over the weekend in a late night attack being reviewed by the city’s hate crime officials.
According to the Seattle Police report on the early Sunday incident, officers found the victim with blood on her face and chest, and a cut above her eye after the attack inside the popular late night hangout Rancho Bravo. The victim told police she was beaten after a verbal exchange with the suspects who were recording her and her friend on video and making hateful comments:
According to the SPD report, the situation escalated quickly when a third suspect struck the victim. The victim said she tried to pretend to be unconscious to stop the beating:
Police provided only a general description of the attackers in the report — a black male with a “faded” hairstyle, a black male in a “blue with white” shirt, and the white male who punched the victim, also wearing a blue with white shirt. The suspects were reported to have left the scene in a white Cadillac SUV. Detectives also may have a partial license plate to work with:
According to the report, the incident may have been captured on the restaurant’s security video system but SPD tells CHS it doesn’t have more information to share at this time. According to a department spokesperson, the investigation is currently being reviewed by the SPD bias crimes unit.
The latest citywide bias crimes data trends show that reports of hate crimes — especially criminal incidents like this assault with an added hate crime element — continue to increase in Seattle.
UPDATE 9/22/2017 8:55 AM: In a statement, Rancho Bravo management decried the attack and called Capitol Hill “a vibrant example of self-expression and freedom.” The restaurant said it does not, however, have video of the assault. “Up to now, out of respect for personal privacy we have had a policy of not monitoring the dining area. In light of recent events we will now change that policy.” The restaurant urged anybody with information that might aid the investigation to call 911.
