A man in Seattle has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a violent anti-transgender hate crime that left a woman seriously injured. Andre Karlow is convicted of second-degree assault and committing a hate crime for attacking Andie Holcepl in March 2025. The incident took place in the city’s University District as Holcepl walked to a Seattle Mariners opening day game. Holcepl testified that Karlow and several men harassed her, calling her a drag queen.
When she tried to record the encounter, Karlow punched her in the mouth. Witnesses said multiple attackers then punched and kicked her while shouting anti-transgender slurs. Holcepl suffered broken teeth, facial injuries, and a brain bleed before reaching a nearby restaurant for help. During sentencing in King County Superior Court, prosecutors cited a recorded jail call in which Karlow said: “If I didn’t hate trans people before, I do now, absolutely. I think that Donald Trump should kill them all. Get them out of here.
They’re weird.” Prosecutors said the attack reflects ongoing fears many transgender people face in public spaces. Karlow showed little remorse as the judge imposed an 84-month sentence.
