Police investigating 4th violent crime on transgender woman in DC area since March

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - D.C. police are investigating the latest installment in a troubling trend in the DMV – crimes against transgender women.

On Tuesday, a transgender woman said a group harassed and assaulted her outside a Northeast grocery store, then followed her home.

The incident was at least the fourth violent crime against a transgender woman in the DMV since March. And although it was not as serious as the attacks on transgender women in Fairmount Heights, it was disturbing enough for the victim to go to the police.

The woman says she was inside the supermarket at 4th and Rhode Island Northeast when she said a man blocked her exit, pushed her around, and started hurling homophobic slurs at her.

Two other men joined in – threatening to beat up the woman, and calling her names.

The woman went back into the store, and an employee drove her home.

Later, the victim said one of the men from the store was on her front porch, banging things and damaging a window.

Police are also investigating another threat against the transgender community that occurred on Saturday. According to investigators, a man drove into the parking lot of Casa Ruby – an LGBT outreach center in Northeast – pulled a gun out, and demanded sex.

And the community is still in shock following the murder of Zoe Spears – who lived in Northeast, but was killed in Fairmount Heights in Prince George's County.

Spears' murder was the second transgender homicide since March.

FBI statistics indicate an overall uptick in hate crimes – and D.C. police statistics reveal a similar surge at the local level.