Philadelphia police are searching for three juveniles who attacked a transgender woman with a corrosive chemical, possibly battery acid, leaving her with burns on her face and body.
The Philadelphia Police Department is searching for three juveniles accused of throwing a corrosive chemical on a transgender woman in West Philadelphia, leaving her hospitalized with burns. The victim, identified by friends as Diana, was walking with headphones on around 1:30 p.m. Sunday when the attack occurred, police said.
“She was walking down the street going to her destination with her earphones in, so there was no interaction, nothing led up to this event,” said PPD Cpt. Robert McKeever.
Police say the suspects, believed to be between 8 and 12 years old, boarded a SEPTA train after the incident. The chemical may have been battery acid, investigators told WTXF-TV.
Diana’s friends said she is a transgender woman and was headed to Pride celebrations. One friend called the attack “shocking,” while another told WPVI-TV, “we really strongly believe this was a hate crime.”
City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier called the attack “horrifying” and blamed rising anti-trans rhetoric for inciting violence.
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