Arrest Made in Assault on LA Transgender Woman
NBC News Los Angeles reports that an arrest has been made in connection with the May31 brutal attack on a transgender woman in Hollywood. The arrest came just two days after the Los Angeles Police Department announced a $25,000 reward for information in the case, which is being investigated as a possible hate crime.
The suspect in custody, was arrested last Thursday night by LAPD and has been identified as 21 year old Nicol Shakhnazaryan of Van Nuys, CA. Three of the four other suspects in the case remain at large. Shakhnazaryan was booked on suspicion of felony battery and bond was set at $1 millon dollars.
As reported by ABC News Los Angeles, the attack which was captured on surveillance video shows the victim, a transgender woman known as Vivian, walking along Hollywood Boulevard near Ivar Avenue when four men approach her.
"She became involved in a verbal confrontation," said LAPD Lt. Marc Reina.
Vivian walks away from the men, heading toward Vine Street.
"At that point, one of the males ran up behind Vivian, striking her from behind, knocking her unconscious, it appears on the video, to the ground. And then the rest of the group joined in and brutally assaulted Vivian by kicking and punching her," said Reina.
As previously reported by EDGE, the victim, Vivian, born Victor Diego, 22, was attacked by a group of men after leaving work at Beso Restaurant in Hollywood, which according is co-owned by "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria.????
Police are investigating the attack as a hate crime.??
Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call (213) 972-2967 or email [email protected].???