BURLINGTON — Police say they are investigating the severe beating of a transgender man at a homeless encampment near the Barge Canal area on Pine Street as a possible hate crime.
Officers said they were called to the encampment Sunday just after 11 a.m., several hours after an apparent assault. They discovered a 38-year-old transgender man lying on the ground with a head injury. Police told the public of the assault in a news release Wednesday. The incident is being investigated as an aggravated assault.
The victim was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center and was found to have a subdural hematoma, facial fractures and several broken ribs, police said. Wednesday police said the victim was unconscious and unable to speak, with uncertain prospects for recovery.
Detective Lt. Shawn Burke said Thursday the victim’s status remained unchanged.
Police withheld the person’s name.
Police say detectives are following “substantive leads” and investigating it as a possible bias incident, which could mean the attacker will face hate crime charges.
“Criminal investigations involve a victimology, and part of this victim’s victimology is that he identifies as a trans man,” Burke said, explaining why the incident is being investigated for bias.
Burke said at this point there is “no information at hand that has a bearing on why he was assaulted.”
Anyone with information about the assault should call city police or Champlain Valley Crime Stoppers at 802-864-6666.
