Austin Police Nab Suspect in Anti-LGBTQ Assault and Robbery at Downtown Food Truck
Austin police have apprehended a suspect connected to an alarming instance of an anti-LGBTQ hate crime and robbery that occurred last month at a food truck in the heart of the bustling city. The victim involved reported being teased, assaulted, and then robbed by a group of four to five male culprits who uttered anti-LGBTQ slurs during the assault.
The Incident
According to court documents, on April 28, at approximately 3:29 a.m., the incident was reported near a Chevron gas station situated at I-35 and East 6th St. The victim, who was donning a red cap with a pride flag and text reading “Women’s Club,” was approached by the group of suspects while sitting at the food truck. The antagonizers started a one-sided conversation with the victim, in an intimidating tone peppered with slurs.
Victim’s Account
The victim reported that when he defended himself, one of the suspects punched him on the right side of his head that resulted in his red cap being knocked off. The assault heightened, resulting in the victim being pushed off the food truck’s platform. The victim’s wallet containing approximately $300-$400 in cash and a slew of financial cards were stolen amidst the chaos.
Aiding Surveillance:
Following the incident, surveillance footage obtained from the location and nearby businesses captured the group of five alleged attackers before and after the assault. Distinct characteristics of the suspects such as one wearing a red True Religion hoodie and a unique circular hand tattoo, were also recorded.
An unidentified suspect was seen entering the same Chevron gas station as the victim around the time of the incident. Additionally, roughly an hour after the robbery, the victim was bombarded with notifications of attempted charges on his stolen debit cards at a nearby 7-Eleven. Further surveillance footage from the convenience store revealed two of the suspects, including the individual in the red hoodie, attempting to use the stolen cards.
Apprehension of the Suspect
On May 14, Austin police officers intercepted a white Chevrolet Equinox that matched the description of the vehicle associated with the suspects. The driver was identified as 23-year-old Kamil Amamouche. His attire (a black t-shirt and pants) was consistent with one of the suspects spotted in the 7-Eleven surveillance footage. A passenger in the vehicle was also identified as the suspect wearing the red hoodie spotted in the previous security recordings.
The Charges
Kamil Amamouche now faces serious legal consequences for his alleged involvement in the crime. He has been charged with second-degree felony robbery and first-degree felony engaging in organized criminal activity.
In Summary
With bigotry gaining media attention, incidents like these bring to light the everyday struggles faced by those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. While the charges levied against Amamouche represent a small victory against hate and lawlessness, it also serves as a solemn reminder that society has a long road ahead in the fight against discrimination and hate crimes.