Police are requesting the public's help Monday in locating three young males suspected of assaulting a 61-year-old transgender woman multiple times at her business in the Westlake District of Los Angeles in what they're calling a series of hate crimes.
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The first alleged crime took place April 8, when a suspect entered the victim's store, flirted with her, and later punched her to the ground after she rejected his advances, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The suspect later discovered the victim was a transgender woman and sexually assaulted her before he pulled away and threatened to kill her, police said.
The same suspect allegedly returned to the location multiple times with additional suspects and committed hate crimes against the victim, which involved one of the suspects striking the victim with a skateboard, deploying pepper spray, and throwing an unknown liquid substance at the victim as another suspect attempted to stun her with a Taser.
Police believe the same individuals returned to the victim's location around 11:40 Saturday and physically assaulted her, inflicting "serious injuries."
The suspects left the scene before police arrived.
Detectives from the LAPD's Rampart Division Robbery Section believe there may be additional victims, and released surveillance photos of the suspects to encourage those individuals to come forward.
Anyone with additional information regarding the crimes was urged to call detectives at 213-484-3495. Calls during non-business hours or weekends should be made to 877-527-3247. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
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