Probation Given To Men Convicted In Attack On Trans Person

MINNEAPOLIS — The two men convicted in a violent attack on a transgender person at a Minneapolis light-rail station were sentenced Wednesday to three years of probation instead of prison time.

Kevin Dewayne York, 23, and Keaten James Morris, 19, pleaded guilty to felony assault in May. Prosecutors did not argue that bias was a motivation for the attack.

On Feb. 27 at about 9:45 a.m., Metro Transit police officers were dispatched to the Lake Street light rail station on a report of an assault.

A transgender person was laying on the ground of the lower-level north tower with "visible brain matter" on the ground, according to the criminal complaint. Officers at the scene expressed initial concern that the assault was due to anti-transgender bias.

York and Morris were identified as suspects and were arrested after they fled to the light rail VA Medical Center Station. After his arrest, York also claimed the transgender person was "slashing at people" with what he believed was a box cutter, according to the criminal complaint.

The transgender person was transported to the Hennepin County Medical Center in critical condition, where they found a rib fracture, pneumothorax, and internal bleeding in the cranium.

The victim said "they hit me" but was not able to sign a medical release form.