Dakota Kern is a transgender teenager residing in Phoenix, Arizona. ^[1] Kern identifies as a female. ^[1]

Kern attended Quest High School.

^[1]

On August 16, 2017, police Kern was apparently assaulted by up to 20 people at a west Valley apartment complex. S he stated that she was invited to a pool party at the complex near 35th and Dunlap avenues and knew some people at the pool, others were strangers.

Soon after, Kern says, people began shouting gay slurs so she and two friends started to leave the pool area.

As she was walking away, a man yelled “get it, get it” and a group of up to 20 people attacked her.

The incident was captured on cell phone video and circulated on social media by one of her attackers. The footage shows Kern being shoved to the ground and kicked repeatedly.

Kern was checked out at the hospital and suffered cuts and bruises.

She now believes she was lured to the pool for the assault.

The Phoenix police department of bias crimes unit is investigating the incident.