5:00pm Wednesday | The 27-year old transgender CSULB student who was attacked on campus two weeks ago has released a statement. The victim, graduate student Colle Carpenter, had the following to say:
On April 15 I was attacked while on a break from class at Cal State Long Beach. Since this happened to me, I have received respect and support from the university, far beyond what I expected. The campus police have made every effort to conduct a thorough investigation and have been especially concerned with respecting my wishes for privacy and for ensuring my safety.
I’m aware the university has come under criticism regarding communications and response in general, but again, I feel that the administration’s response has been focused on the investigation and my well-being. I think it’s really unfair that the university is being criticized. I requested time alone to heal privately with my family and the university honored that request. The university statement was released 20 minutes after I approved the sketch of the suspect.
I appreciate the outpouring of support from the community. However, some people and organizations have directed their anger and fear toward the university instead of the person who did this. I think the most important thing for everyone to understand is the need to find and prosecute the person who hurt me. Attacking the university is counterproductive.
In my past three years I have received nothing but support from the faculty and staff. Attacking a campus that has supported LGBTIQQ students is wrong. Portraying the university as being unwilling to face the attack head on could cause someone to decide not to go to school here and that would deny them access to the supportive and welcoming university that I am honored to call home.
I chose to return to my classes and CSULB is doing everything possible to make sure I feel safe in that decision.
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CSULB Police sketch of suspect.
Updated 4:30pm | The university has released a statement and a sketch of the suspect in last week’s attack on a 27-year old transgender student on campus. The sketch is above. The suspect is described as a male in his 20’s either 5’9 or 5’10, with light complexion and dark hair. The incident occurred in the men’s restroom on the west side of the KKJZ building.
“University Police strongly believe this was an isolated incident and that there is no additional threat to the campus community,” reads a statement from the university.
Updated 1:40pm | A Facebook posting from late last night obtained by the lbpost.com titled “Transphobia escalates to real life violence at CSULB” describes the incident as: “A [transgendered] student left class [Thursday] night to go to the bathroom and on the way there was assaulted by someone who knew him by name but whom he didn’t know. He beat him and threw him against a wall then carved “It” on his chest with a knife.”
Breaking 12:00pm | The lbpost.com learned this morning that a transgendered CSULB student reported to University Police on April 15, 2010 that a suspect encountered the student in the Lecture Hall 151 restroom, slashing his chest with a sharp object. Police have not said whether the attack was because the student is transgender, and are continuing their investigation.
The 27-year old student was called by name by the suspect in the men’s restroom and the student responded. The suspect then pulled the student’s t-shirt over his head and pushed him into a stall, using a sharp object to slash the student’s chest. The suspect then fled. Police did not say whether the student knew the suspect.
More information will be available soon, police said, possibly including a suspect sketch. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Johnny Leyva at 562.985.4101.