A 55-year-old trans woman was the victim of an aggravated assault at the corner of Castro and Market streets, according to a San Francisco Police Department daily crime report from May 30.
According to the report, the victim was approached by an unidentified male assailant, struck, and pushed into the street. The report described the offense as aggravated assault, and the victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The incident took place just after 6 p.m., the report stated.
The assault went unremarked upon for several days, until Police Chief William Scott brought it up at a Police Commission meeting Wednesday, June 5.
"The disturbing part of this was that this was a totally unprovoked attack," Scott said, according to the San Francisco Examiner, which first reported the incident. "We're asking for the public's help if anybody saw anything that can help us solve this case."
The Bay Area Reporter noted the assault in the SFPD's daily crime recap. However, the original report misgendered the victim. When the B.A.R reached out for clarification and additional details, SFPD media relations pinpointed the incident on the original report, but declined to comment on the error.
Gay District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman offered his concern via text message to the B.A.R.
"I was troubled to learn that a trans woman was the victim of an assault in the Castro last month," he wrote. "My office has been in contact with Captain [Gaetano] Caltagirone of Mission Station about the ongoing investigation into the incident."
He added that ensuring the safety of people who live and work in the neighborhood is "one of my top priorities."
This incident adds to an already-violent Pride Month in the U.S., occurring in the same week as the death of Johana Medina, a 25-year-old trans asylum seeker, shortly after her release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in Texas. This attack also happened just before two gay men were battered in front of Southside Spirit House in San Francisco in an apparent incident of homophobic violence.
Updated, 6/13/19: This article was updated to include comments from Supervisor Rafael Mandelman.