Police officers in New York are looking into the death of a transgender woman as a possible hate crime after she was attacked on Saturday night, according to NY 1 News.
Islan Nettles, 21, was out with a friend near 148th Street and Eighth Avenue in Harlem around 11 p.m. when they met a group of men. Officials said one of the men became angry after learning that Nettles and her friend, also a transgender woman, were not born female. He reportedly yelled anti-gay remarks and began punching Nettles.
Once the attack broke out, Nettles' friend ran to get help. She said that someone was still on top of Nettles when she left the scene. The incident happened across from a police precinct.
Authorities said Nettles died on Thursday at 6:45 p.m. She was originally conscious following her attack on the way to the hospital but fell into a coma and was declared brain dead. Police said Nettles was kept on a ventilator so family members could visit the victim and pay their respects.
The medical examiner has not determined the cause of death yet. Charges against the suspects could change depending on the examiner's final ruling. Paris Wilson, 20, was arrested in connection to the case.
According to The Guardian, 68 hate crimes have been reported this year in New York City, which range from shouted slurs to murder. In May, Mark Carson, 32, was harassed and died after being shot in the head in Greenwich Village. Last week, two men were attacked in Chelsea. A total of 54 attacks were reported last year.
Police stepped up patrolling this summer in response to the increasing number of reports. Nettle's sister, Elana, said on Friday that she and her mother were coping.
Christine Quinn, openly gay mayoral candidate and City Council speaker, condemned the attack against Nettles and her friend.
"An attack against one person, or one community, is an assault against all New Yorkers," she said in a joint statement with other council members. "We ask all New Yorkers to come together, to embrace our differences and to denounce hate violence."
