Man Shouted Anti-Transgender Remarks At Woman, Attacked Her: PD

MASSAPEQUA, NY — A Freeport man was arrested Monday night after Nassau County police say he shouted anti-transgender remarks at a woman and then shot her with a pellet gun.

According to police, Shamel Wilkens, 41, of Bedell Street, was in his room at the Budget Inn Motel, located at 400 Carman Mill Road in Massapequa, when a 35-year-old woman walked by his door. Police say Wilkens began to shout anti-transgender remarks at her, and then shot her in the neck and right leg with a pellet gun as she walked away.

The woman ran to the parking lot and told her boyfriend what happened. Police say the man went and confronted Wilkens, who then pointed the pellet gun at him.

The couple called police, and Wilkens was arrested without incident. Both the man and woman refused medical attention at the scene, police said.

Wilkens is charged with second-degree attempted assault, two counts of second-degree menacing and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was arraigned on Tuesday, and his bail was set at $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond, which was not posted.