Police believe transgender woman's appearance made her easy target in robbery

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) - A transgender woman was found on the ground, bleeding in a parking lot with head injuries, according to a police report. Officers do not believe the attack was a hate crime, but they say her appearance may have made her an easy target.

Friends have identified the victim as Michael Taylor, who is known as Alexia Dupree.

"Very heart filled, loving, kind person," friend James Houston said. "It's so shocking that someone would do this, because she would give the clothes off her back to help someone else"

Memphis police were called to 69 North Cleveland Street near near a Midtown church after someone heard loud screaming.

The victim told police she was behind a building, a block away from the church, when someone dragged her down stairs and robbed her. After stealing a purse, the robber stabbed Taylor and hit her in the head with a brick.

Medical crews took the victim to Regional Medical Center, where she was later upgraded to critical condition.

Houston said Taylor is homeless and would sleep behind the building sometimes.

"I really believe that if she would have been in a place where she could call home, she would not [have been attacked]," Houston said.

No one has been arrested in the attack.

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