Anti-Trans Attack in Capitol Hill Restaurant Not Caught On Tape

Seattle Police are investigating an assault on a transgender woman in a Capitol Hill taqueria early last Sunday as a possible hate crime — but there’s no video of the attack to assist in the investigation.

The victim was dining with a friend at Rancho Bravo Tacos on Pine early Sunday morning when a group of men began photographing her and commenting on her gender. After asking them to stop, one of the men punched her, and others kicked her, leaving her bloodied. Restaurant staff and the woman’s friend intervened, and the men fled in an SUV.

According to Capitol Hill Seattle Blog, the SPD’s bias crime unit (who deal with hate crimes) are reviewing the violent incident, and police are looking for attackers.

Rancho Bravo posted a sympathetic comment on the incident to their Facebook Thursday night, noting a change in policy for the way the taco spot surveils its dining room: “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 victim’s friend who was with her, Chris Ferrentino, spoke to KOMO, saying that it left his friend afraid to leave her home.

“I just think they’re awful human beings and they need to be outed and caught for their disgusting behavior.”

• SPD hate crime unit reviewing transgender attack in Capitol Hill restaurant [CHS Blog]
• Friend of transgender woman assaulted on Capitol Hill: "It's destroyed us a bit" [KOMO]