A Baltimore, Maryland LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) group confirms that the beating victim in a viral video filmed at a Baltimore area McDonalds, was in fact a transgendered woman.
Police say the incident occurred on Monday, April 18, inside a McDonalds franchise restaurant at 6315 Kenwood Avenue, in Rosedale, MD. A video uploaded to YouTube and re-posted on Worldstarhiphop.com, showed two black females stomping and pummeling the 22-year-old transgendered woman outside the women’s restroom. The unidentified transgendered woman was white.
Witnesses told police the fight started after the transgendered woman refused to leave the woman’s restroom.
As the beating unfolded in front of McDonalds employees — who, for the most part, stood around and did nothing — one employee, identified as Vernon “Charm” Hackett, 18, pulled out his cell phone — not to call the police, but to film the action so he could upload it to his YouTube account.
The model citizen, who has worked for McDonalds since 2009, posted this account of the violence on his facebook page Friday afternoon:
I called the McDonalds store yesterday and spoke with a nice young lady who told me that Hackett’s employment status with the restaurant was “currently under review,” indicating that he might be suspended or fired.
Maryland police later arrested the two teens, ages 14 and 18. The 14-year-old will be charged as a juvenile, while charges are pending against the 18-year-old.
Though the violence on the video is brutal, and appears to be without provocation, legal experts say prosecuting the two teens based on the evidence won’t be so cut and dried.
If this is a case of a 22 year old man entering a bathroom while a 14 year old girl was using it – get ready for a legal showdown. Any sleazeball criminal defense attorney will have enough facts to argue for a dismissal. I am sure the two girls have already been called by attorneys willing to take the case pro bono, trying to make a name. LGBT rights will spend more time on trial during this soon-to-be circus than the girls will. Still, all must agree that the assault, without a doubt, is heinous.
