Westlake

3 men in sought in attacks on transgender woman in Westlake District

Police said the victim was struck with a skateboard, pepper sprayed, and doused with an unknown liquid.

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Three men are sought by police in the assault of a transgender woman at her business in Los Angeles' Westlake District.

The Los Angeles Police Department released photos Monday of the men wanted in what the department called a series of hate crimes on the 61-year-old transgender woman.

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"I don't feel safe," the victim, Sabrina De La Peña, said. "I'm only thinking he's going to come back."

Rampart Division Robbery Section detectives said there might be additional victims and encouraged those individuals to come forward following reports of someone entering the victim's store on April 8, flirting with her, and later punching her to the ground after she rejected his advances, police said.

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The attacker later discovered the victim was a transgender woman and allegedly sexually assaulted her before he "pulled away" and threatened to kill her.

Police stated that the same person had returned to the location multiple times with other people and committed hate crimes against De La Peña. One of the men struck the victim with a skateboard, deployed pepper spray, and threw an unknown liquid substance at the victim as another man attempted to stun her with a Taser.

Anyone with additional information regarding the crimes was urged to call Rampart Division Robbery detectives at 213-484-3495. Calls during non-business hours or weekends should be made to 877-527-3247. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

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