An Alabama man is jailed in Indiana, accused of shooting a transgender woman in head in what is being investigated as possible hate crime.

Gerald P. Lewis, who was using the alias "Gadiell Ben Israel," said "die, die," and used a homophobic slur during the Sunday incident, according to multiple Indiana media reports. The victim, 55-year Crystal Cash told investigators Lewis was from Alabama, and police found identification in his backpack that indicated he lived, or has lived, in Alabama.

He is jailed in Vanderburgh County with bond set at $5 million, jail records show. The listed charges are attempted murder, robbery and carrying a handgun without a license.

According to the Evansville Courier Press, the shooting happened just after 3 p.m. Sunday. The victim called 911 herself and reported being shot in the face. She described the incident as a "completely random encounter," saying she Lewis at a nearby intersection and they had a conversation before both entered the North First Avenue building, where she has an office and apartment, according to publication.

Cash told police that Lewis started acting suspicious after entering the office, walking into restricted areas and spending an unusual amount of time in the bathroom. Cash tried to flee into another room and Lewis allegedly followed. That's when he reportedly shot her and took her ID, passport, credit cards and keys to the office.

Lewis was later arrested near Deaconess Hospital. Police confiscated a backpack from Lewis and, after receiving a search warrant for the bag, found a loaded 9mm handgun with extra ammunition inside. Lewis allegedly did not have a valid permit to carry the gun.

NBC 14 News reported that Lewis was in court Tuesday, where he said "I don't understand" when the judge read him his constitutional rights. The television station quoted court records that said Lewis also was not able not able to understand the Miranda warning read to him during his arrest.

The television station also said Lewis was wearing an Israeli-Christian shirt. In court Tuesday, Lewis's wife, Daisy, confirmed that Lewis was suspended a few months ago from his membership with group "Israel United in Christ." She said she believes it's not a hate group, and said she's never heard her husband say anything derogatory or homophobic until this accusation.

Police told Indiana reporters that although Cash said the encounter was random, she was able to give police a detailed report about him, including his age, where he was born, where he was from - Alabama - and that the alias he was using.