Authorities said Thursday that an arrest has been made in the robbery and assault of two transgender women, including a YouTube performer, who were attacked in Hollywood and whose case has been classified as a hate crime.
An afternoon news conference was scheduled at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Station to release details of the investigation.
According to police, the suspect approached the women about 2:15 a.m. Monday and offered to buy them merchandise at a store in the 6500 block of Hollywood Boulevard, near Wilcox Avenue. He then refused to pay and the women left, police said.
The suspect approached them again with a metal bar and demanded one of the women’s shoes and bracelet, police said. She complied out of fear, and the suspect grabbed her hand and forced her to walk a short distance with him before she could escape.
He then assaulted the second victim with a bottle, knocking her to the ground, according to police.
“It was absolutely the worst day of my life,” Eden Estrada, who goes by Eden the Doll on YouTube, told CBS2, adding she believes it was a targeted attack.
“My friend completely collapsed,” Estrada said. “I’m not a doctor. I don’t know if she’s breathing. I’m trying my hardest to help her. I’m begging people for help. I’m screaming for help.”
Estrada and her friend said the man took their phones, wallets and purses.
“Both victims are transgender women, and the suspect made derogatory remarks about their status during the crime,” police said.
The approximately 25-year-old suspect is described as Black, 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, according to police. He was wearing a black tank top and black shorts.
Anyone with information about the suspect was urged to call the LAPD’s Hollywood Station at 213-972-2971.