Police arrest suspect in violent transgender hate crime attack in University District

Seattle police have arrested Andre Phillip Karlow, a 39-year-old man, for a violent hate crime against a transgender individual in the University District. The incident unfolded on Thursday evening when the victim, assaulted by a group of men using anti-transgender slurs, managed to escape and call 911. Officers arrived to find that the attackers had fled but quickly gathered information from witnesses, establishing probable cause for a hate crime. The victim sustained significant injuries and was evaluated by medical personnel on the scene. Karlow’s arrest follows a comprehensive investigation that linked him to the assault and a previous hate crime incident from September 2024.

With a troubling criminal record of 30 arrests since 2003, including 13 felonies, he now faces serious charges. His bail has been set at $200,000, highlighting the severity of the situation. This incident adds to ongoing concerns about violence against the transgender community in Seattle.