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Man Wanted In Sex Assault Of Transgender Woman In Stonewall Inn Bathroom

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD said it has identified a suspect in a sex attack on a transgender woman in the bathroom of the historic Stonewall Inn.

The 25-year-old victim told police she went into the single-person restroom at the bar, at 53 Christopher St. around 11:40 p.m. Saturday. She said a man barged in behind her, claiming he needed to wash his hands, WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported.

The victim told police the suspect then groped her and sexually assaulted her before running out of the Greenwich Village bar, Silverman reported.

Mayor Bill de Blasio reacted to the incident Monday afternoon.

"Look, it's a very disturbing incident taking place in a site that is very important historically, and where something good happened in terms of creating more opportunity for people to live their lives. To see a violent incident like this is very, very troubling," de Blasio said. "But I have confidence based on the information the chief just indicated that we will apprehend this individual."

City Councilman Corey Johnson (D-3rd) also said he's outraged.

"New York City has zero tolerance for sexual assault, and this crime will not go unanswered," Johnson said in a statement.

Detectives have been interviewing the woman and potential witnesses.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said the Special Victims Division was also able to grab video, and has identified the person involved.

Boyce declined to comment further, but said "the case is going well, and people inside the Stonewall know him, and we'll go from there. Hopefully we can get him identified in the next coming days."

The suspect, who is believed to be in his 30s or 40s, is known to frequent the bar on Saturdays, police said. He has dark hair, a goatee and was last seen wearing a shiny gray suit and pointed shoes.

Anyone with information is being asked to call Crime Stoppers at at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

The bar was declared a city landmark last year. It was the site of the 1969 demonstrations that marked the start of the modern gay rights movement.

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