Arrest made in Hollywood hate crime
HOLLYWOOD—A suspect has been arrested in connection with the May 21st assault of a transgender woman in Hollywood. In a LAPD press release, 21-year-old Nicol Shakhnazaryan was announced as a suspect while investigators are looking into its status as a hate crime.
Shakhnazaryan and three other unidentified suspects are seen in still images from the video of the assault. (See link below)
On the day of the assault, a transgender woman known as “Vivian” was walking down Hollywood Boulevard around 2:15 AM. Shortly thereafter, she was assaulted and severely injured before being hospitalized for a week.
Los Angeles authorities immediately took special action in tracking the alleged suspects. The LAPD asked for assistance from the public while pointing potential tipsters to an email account specifically opened for the case. The Los Angeles City Council also offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of any suspects involved with the case.
Hollywood and Ivar, where the assault took place. The up-scale restaurant Beso is shown, where Edge Los Angeles has reported the victim worked, and was leaving when attacked.
Less than a month after the assault, LAPD officers arrested Shakhnazaryan during a search warrant in Van Nuys on June 20th. Shakhnazaryan was booked on felony battery charges at the LAPD’s Metropolitan Detention Center where is bail was set at $1,050,000. On Monday afternoon, he pleaded not guilty to the charges. The LAPD and FBI are still looking for three more suspects believed to be involved in the assault.
Detectives released video of the assault and suspects
The LAPD did not immediately comment further on the incident.
Read More:
Hollywood Patch: Man charged in Beating of Transgender Woman in Hollywood
KABC: Transgender woman attacked: 1 suspect arrested; 3 outstanding
Edge Los Angeles: Arrest Made in Assault on LA Transgender Woman
