"Prosecutors said Karlow shouted insults and called Holcepl a "drag queen." When she tried to record the harassment on her phone, Karlow punched her in the mouth, setting off a group assault. Witnesses said Holcepl was punched and kicked while assailants shouted anti-transgender slurs. She suffered broken teeth, facial injuries, and a brain bleed before escaping into a nearby restaurant for help."
"Jurors concluded the assault met Washington state's legal definition of a hate crime, which requires proof that a victim was targeted because of a protected characteristic such as gender identity. Although multiple men were involved, investigators identified Karlow as the primary aggressor."
"Prosecutors said the case illustrates how harassment can quickly escalate into bias-motivated violence. On Friday, Andre Karlow was sentenced in King County Superior Court after a jury convicted him of second-degree assault and committing a hate crime for attacking Andie Holcepl last March."
Andre Karlow was convicted of second-degree assault and committing a hate crime for attacking transgender woman Andie Holcepl in Seattle's University District in March 2025. Verbal harassment from Karlow and others quickly turned violent when Holcepl attempted to record the incident on her phone. Karlow punched her in the mouth, triggering a group assault where multiple assailants kicked and punched Holcepl while shouting anti-transgender slurs. She sustained broken teeth, facial injuries, and a brain bleed before escaping to a nearby restaurant. Investigators identified Karlow as the primary aggressor. The jury determined the assault met Washington state's legal definition of a hate crime, requiring proof the victim was targeted based on gender identity, a protected characteristic.
Read at Advocate.com
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