Seattle police have arrested a man linked to a brutal assault on a transgender woman in Seattle’s University District late last month. This incident marks another in a series of legal challenges for the suspect, Andre Karlow, who has previous allegations of domestic violence and a separate hate crime.
On March 27, the victim, a transgender woman, recounted a harrowing encounter while she was en route to meet her partner at a local light rail station. A group of men subjected her to derogatory remarks, calling her a “drag queen” and aggressively demanding she remove her makeup.
The situation escalated when the woman attempted to capture the episode on her cellphone, prompting the men to assault her physically. She was struck in the face and fell to the ground while the group continued their attack with kicks and punches.
Despite her attempts to escape, the assailants pursued her into a nearby business on the 4700 block of University Way NE, where employees intervened, using a chair as a makeshift barrier to stave off the attackers. The assailants, who were caught on surveillance footage, were then seen fleeing the scene in a dark blue Toyota Camry bearing Oklahoma license plates.
The victim sustained significant injuries, including a swollen-shut eye, a chipped tooth, bruising across her face, neck, and shoulders, as well as acute cranial bleeding. These injuries are indicative of the severity of the assault she endured.
Following up on the vehicle used in the attack, law enforcement tracked the car back to another incident that took place the prior day involving domestic violence. SWAT teams from the Seattle Police Department were dispatched, culminating in Karlow’s arrest following a standoff lasting several hours at his domicile on Stone Avenue North.
In addition to the March incident, court documents reveal that Karlow had previously targeted another transgender woman in September 2024. The victim, a fare ambassador for Sound Transit, was verbally and physically assaulted by Karlow, who demanded she alter her voice and subsequently hit her.
Karlow faces charges for second-degree assault and committing a hate crime relating to the assault on March 27. His criminal history includes a worrying record of 13 felonies and 13 gross misdemeanors spanning assault, theft, and other serious charges.
Investigators note that three accomplices linked to the March attack are still at large.
In a heartfelt statement, the March attack victim, who served in the military, expressed the broader implications of her assault, suggesting it reflects a wider pattern of hostility fueled by political rhetoric.
In response to the assault and to show solidarity with the victim, a rally is set to take place at the U-District light rail station, starting at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. This event aims to support the victim and condemn violence against the transgender community.