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Dallas Authorities Investigating Possible Hate Crime After Trans Woman Is Beaten In Broad Daylight
A transgender woman under attack by multiple assailants in Dallas was caught on video.
Police arrested one of her attackers, 29-year-old Edward Thomas, on a charge of aggravated assault.
Muhlaysia Booker, the victim, was in a minor traffic accident at the parking lot for the Royal Crest Apartments, according to Police as reported on Buzzfeed News.
Earlier, the attack was being investigated as a hate crime as Booker alleged her assailants used homophobic slurs while striking her repeatedly in the face in broad daylight as she tried to get away.
The DPD Beat released a report stating that the incident took place on April 12 between 5 p.m and 6 p.m.
"During a verbal altercation regarding the accident, a male suspect began to physically assault the victim before several other suspects joined in the assault."
"The victim sustained serious bodily injuries and was transported to UT Southwestern by witnesses at the scene."
Facebook user Taj Mahal posted the video footage showing Booker walking in an intersection wearing a pink wig with a crowd closing in on her.
At one point in the footage, the camera flips into selfie mode to reveal the cameraman with another man in a white shirt who eventually knocks Booker to the ground to punch her.
The video resumes with other men joining in the attack. Someone can be heard yelling:
"F*** that ho."
Women in the crowd could be heard yelling for the men to stop.
The footage concluded with three other women helping Booker to her feet.
Booker's father, Pierre, called the assailant a "coward" and told NBC DFW:
"This don't need to happen to nobody else's kid, so we pray that everything comes out justifiable. We know the Lord works in mysterious ways."
The victim's grandmother added:
"All I tell them you know is I love them. I love them for whoever they are. And I'm not God, I'm not the judge, I'm not the jury."
Taj told Buzzfeed that he claimed to be Booker's friend who "happened to stop by" after hearing a commotion that led to the attack.
He also claimed to have shot the footage, but after being asked about the assailant in the white shirt appearing next to the cameraman, Taj changed his story and said he obtained the footage and claimed it was spliced together with other footage.
Booker sustained facial fractures and her right arm is in a sling after being taken to the hospital. A family member told WFAA she is "thanking God that she's still alive."
People are outraged for some media outlets referring to this as a "possible" hate crime.
Others are sending their thoughts and prayers for her recovery.
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings was furious over the attack and acknowledged it as a hate crime on Facebook.
"I am extremely angry about what appears to be mob violence against this woman. I am in contact with the chief and she assured me that the Dallas Police Department is fully investigating, including the possibility that this was a hate crime."
"Those who did this do not represent how Dallasites feel about our thriving LGBTQ community. We will not stand for this kind of behavior."
Booker gave an update to her followers and assured them she is well and recovering.
We wish Muhlaysia Booker a speedy recovery.