Hate crime suspect arrested in pepper spray assault on trans woman in Jackson Heights

Trans women and their allies in Jackson Heights march at an annual demonstration for equal rights and protections in 2018. Eagle file photo by Andy Katz.

By Jonathan Sperling

A Jackson Heights man who cops say assaulted a transgender woman while making anti-transgender remarks has been arrested and charged with multiple hate crime-related counts.

NYPD officers from the 110th Precinct said David Gonzalez, 34, made the hateful remarks to the 29-year-old trans woman as she walked near Roosevelt Avenue and 82nd Street just after 4 a.m. on June 29. Gonzalez allegedly sprayed pepper spray into the victim’s eyes.

Police told the Eagle that Gonzalez and the victim had a “dispute.” Specifics of the hateful statements were not immediately available.

The victim was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital in stable condition for burning and watery eyes.

Gonzalez, of 90th Street, was arrested Tuesday night and charged with two counts each of felony assault — hate crime, aggravated harassment — hate crime and aggravated harassment.

Despite vocal support for the LGBTQIA+ community from many residents and leaders, Queens has been the site of several alleged homophobic and transphobic hate crimes in recent months, including an incident where a Jackson Heights tattoo shop employee assaulted a gay couple. 

In Forest Hills, a man was charged with a hate crime for allegedly sucker punching a 20-year-old woman after calling her an anti-gay slur.

Hate crimes are also on the rise citywide, prompting Mayor Bill de Blasio to open an Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes. Hate crimes increased in the city by 64 percent since last year, with anti-Semitic hate crimes accounting for 60 percent of all reported hate crimes, according to data from the NYPD cited by the Mayor’s Office.