Candice Williams

The Detroit News

Dearborn Police are investigating an alleged attack of a transgender person at a bar, officials said Thursday.

The incident occurred around 1:50 a.m. Wednesday on Michigan in west Dearborn. Police declined to name the bar, however, in a video posted on Facebook Wednesday the apparent victim said the attack took place at Post Bar.

In the video posted to Facebook, a person who identifies herself as Courtney Purvis said she was hit in the face “because I’m transgender.” In the self-recorded video Purvis shows what appears to be blood on her face and a split lip.

“They treated me like I did something wrong,” Purvis said. “I’ve been attacked. Trans lives matter, too ... And I don’t understand why they attacked me like this.”

According to police Thursday, the victim said another bar patron, a woman, made derogatory remarks about the victim, which caused an argument.

“Management escorted all parties out of the bar and once outside the victim states she was stabbed in the back and struck in the face with a bottle,” police said in a statement.

The victim was treated at a hospital for nonlife threatening injuries and released, police said.

Lt. Gary Mann of the Dearborn Police Department said Thursday they are investigating if the incident is a hate crime. It is unclear if the victim knew the suspect, he said.

“We’re in the preliminary stages of the investigation right now,” he said adding police are having a difficult time contacting the victim for an interview.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Dearborn Police Department at (313) 943-2241 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at (800) SPEAK-UP.

cwilliams@detroitnews.com

(313) 222-2311