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Redding police said an early Friday attack on a woman who is transgender and homeless was a hate crime.

Officers at about 12:40 a.m. went to Mercy Medical Center in Redding to meet with a woman who'd been assaulted and had visible head injuries caused by being hit several times with a rock, Redding police Sgt. Chris Smyrnos said.

Police learned the woman was attacked in part because she is transgender, Smyrnos said.

The woman, whom police aren't identifying because she's the victim of an alleged hate crime, told police she and two others were staying under a bridge near Eastside Road and Breslauer Lane off Highway 273 in south Redding. She said the pair - a man named Ron and woman named Sherry - wanted her to buy more beer for the trio but she refused, Smyrnos said.

The woman then tried to go to sleep but was hit in the head, she told police. Ron beat her with a rock, striking her at least three times, and Sherry stole her money, the woman told officers.

Ron also called the woman a slur referring to her being transgender, Smyrnos said.

Police describe Ron as white, in his 40s, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 155 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He also has tattoos on his left arm and was last seen wearing a blue shirt and jeans, Smyrnos said.

Sherry is white, in her 30s, about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, 130 pounds, with dirty blond hair and green eyes, Smyrnos said.

Beyond their reported first names, police have yet to identify Ron or Sherry.

They ask anyone with information to call 225-4200.