The savage beating and death of 21-year old transgender woman Islan Nettles is being investigated as a hate crime.

She’d been walking with friends on Saturday night in Harlem when a group of men began shouting homophobic slurs and attacked them.

Yesterday, she was declared brain dead due to the injuries she suffered, and subsequently taken off life support.

From DNA Info:

A 20-year-old man, whose identity was not immediately released, was arrested in connection with the attack, police said. He was initially charged with misdemeanor assault, but cops said they expected to upgrade the charges on Friday.

According to Nettles’ LinkedIn page, she planned to work in the fashion industry, and had worked as an intern at Harlem design house Ay’ Medici.

“Fashion became a definite decision for my life after my first show with my hand designed garments in high school at the 11th grade,” she wrote.

Read more at DNA Info

Horrible.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Islan Nettles’ loved ones.

Thoughts on this despicable act of hatred?

Sound off below!