JUSTICE IS SERVED

LAPD Arrests Man Responsible For Brutal Hate Crime Against Transgender Woman

vivian-diego-hospitalThe Los Angeles Police Department has announced an arrest in connection to the horrifying assault of a transgender woman in West Hollywood this May. The attack—though clearly a hate crime—was caught on a video surveillance camera and is being treated by police as a “possible” hate crime.

22-year-old Vivian Diego suffered a broken jaw, shattered cheekbone and two cracked ribs in the assault, which happened around 2:30 a.m. on May 31 while she was walking toward a Metro station on Hollywood Boulevard. Diego was approached by four men from behind and beaten even after she fell unconscious.

“One of the members of the group ran after Vivian and struck her from behind, knocking her to the ground,” Lt. Marc Reina told CBS Los Angeles. “The remaining members of the group then joined in brutally assaulting Vivian by repeatedly kicking her, even while she lay motionless on the sidewalk.”

Nicol Shakhnazaryan, 21, believed to be one of the attackers, was arrested on felony battery charges related to the event last Thursday. He’s currently being held on $1.05M bail, and the LAPD is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the remaining three assailants.

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