Over the weekend, a video surfaced online in which a black transgender woman is being brutally attacked by a group of men in the middle of the street in South Dallas. Police are reportedly investigating the assault as a hate crime, and have arrested one of the perpetrators of the attack.
According to local authorities, the assault took place on April 12 outside of the Royal Crest Apartment complex following a "minor traffic accident," leading to a verbal exchange between those involved.
The victim has been identified as 23-year-old Muhlaysia Booker, who was thrown to the ground by a man in a white t-shirt and senselessly beaten by a group of men who then joined the fight. Booker told police that the attackers were yelling homophobic slurs at her while they perpetrated the violence. Booker's father told local news station NBC DFW that this is the worst his daughter has ever been beaten on account of her identity, although she has been physically assaulted in the past.
After the attackers punched, kicked, and dragged Booker across the parking lot, video footage shows three women helping the victim up and removing her from the scene. Booker was transported by witnesses to UT Southwestern hospital, where she was interviewed by police. Booker suffered serious injuries, including facial fractures and a broken wrist.
Dallas authorities announced that they arrested 29-year-old Edward Thomas on aggravated assault charges for his role in the attack, which they specified is being "flagged as a hate crime." The video footage captured was uploaded to Facebook on Friday night by someone with the account name Taj Mahal, who has yet to comment on the incident.
