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A judge’s gavel for the files.<\/p>\n
Bjoern Wylezich, HO \/ TNS<\/p>\n
A Houston\u00a0man has pleaded guilty to\u00a0a hate crime charge over accusations he used a dating app <\/a>to convince a\u00a0transgender woman to meet with him and then beat her with a gun.\u00a0<\/p>\n Salih Ali Mohammed Alhemoud on July 20 agreed to plead guilty to a federal hate crime count and admitted that he targeted the woman based on her sexual orientation, court records state. The term transgender refers to a person’s gender identity.\u00a0<\/p>\n MORE ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: 5-month-old’s death under investigation in Hockley, sheriff says<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n He now faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He’s scheduled to be sentenced later this year.<\/p>\n In August 2022, Alhemoud used Grindr, a dating app designed for LGBTQ people, to contact his victim and arrange a meeting at her apartment, according to federal prosecutors. When they were in her bedroom, he pulled out a gun and began assaulting her, according to a complaint.<\/p>\n Alhemoud admitted to pointing a gun at the victim, striking her in the head with the gun and making threats and directing slurs at her during the assault, according to the plea agreement.<\/p>\n According to the FBI, Alhemoud told the victim she was going to die and made statements such as \u201cmy religion considers you a demon\u201d and that she \u201cwas a demon like the others, all you trans people.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Investigators alleged Alhemoud targeted multiple victims<\/p>\n It was not the only time that\u00a0Alhemoud used the internet to find victims, investigators alleged.\u00a0<\/p>\n Two other people told investigators that Alhemoud had come to their shared apartment in July 2022, after reaching out to one of them through Instagram. When he arrived, he threatened them with a gun and yelled slurs at them, according to the complaint.<\/p>\n Three other people, including two transgender women and a gay man, said they were in an apartment along with Alhemoud in September 2022 when he threatened to kill one of them, stole some of their belongings and drove away in a Dodge Charger.<\/p>\n Alhemoud was arrested shortly after the alleged\u00a0September robbery.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n As he was driving through downtown Houston, he threatened two people with a gun after they honked at him for stopping his car in the middle of the road, according to a complaint.<\/p>\n Police tried to stop Alhemoud’s Charger after the other driver called 911, but he led them on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash. When police took him into custody, they found a 9 mm Glock handgun, according to authorities.<\/p>\n Salih Alhemoud, 28, of Houston is in custody on federal hate crime charges. He’s accused of using Grindr to set up a date with a transgender victim he violently beat and robbed. There may be others. If you believe you’re a victim, please call FBI Houston at 713-693-5000. #HouNews<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vhakoY1Ady<\/a><\/p>\n