Renton, WA Woman Brutally Beaten by Teens at Transit Station But Judge Releases Suspects So They Can Play Football
Victim faces multiple facial surgeries and launches GoFundMe for medical expenses.
September 17, 2026
This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on September 17, 2026
A 39-year-old transgender woman, Nikki Armstrong, was savagely beaten near the Renton Transit Center on Monday evening, leaving her with severe facial injuries and a long recovery ahead.
Renton police confirmed that two teenagers, ages 15 and 17, were arrested and released on electronic home monitoring, while two other suspects remain at large.
The victim, Nikki Armstrong, said the confrontation began earlier in the evening when she saw a group of teenage boys harassing a security guard.
Armstrong them, “Don’t you have anything better to do?” before continuing on her way. Hours later, around 8:20 p.m., she crossed paths with the teens again.
“They chased me, knocked me to the ground, and started assaulting me while shouting homophobic comments,” Armstrong told FOX 13.
“They were choking me while one of them stomped on my face.”
Police arrived quickly after the attack and arrested two suspects, identified as brothers.
Officers say all four suspects attend Renton High School and believe two more teens were directly involved.
Authorities referred charges of second-degree strangulation assault, second-degree assault with great bodily harm, and hate crime enhancements.
Judge Veronica Galvan later released the two arrested boys on electronic home monitoring with allowances for school and sports, while also issuing a no-contact order with Armstrong.
“She was savagely beaten on the ground where she was defenseless,” Renton Police spokesperson Meeghan Black said.
“We do not stand for hate in this community, and our officers will pursue and investigate it to the fullest extent.”
Armstrong suffered a broken nose, fractured cheekbone, and damage to her brow bone.
She now faces multiple reconstructive surgeries and has launched a campaign to cover medical expenses and avoid eviction while she is unable to work.
Despite the violence, Armstrong expressed compassion for her attackers. She said,
“I don’t think jail is the place to fix troubled kids. Bad kids become bad adults, but there has to be something better to help them.”
She had one message for the teens who assaulted her:
“Find something better to do with your time.”
Both boys are scheduled to return to court on Friday, September 19, where prosecutors are expected to make a charging decision.
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