Burlington police say a transgender man was severely beaten at a homeless encampment off Pine Street on Sunday in what could be a "bias incident."

Police said they were called to an encampment near the Barge Canal and found a 38-year-old man suffering from head trauma around 11 a.m. The victim, whose name has not been released, was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center and was being treated for facial fractures, a subdural hematoma and several broken ribs, police said.

Police said the initial prognosis was that the victim would recover quickly. But his condition worsened: The man remains unconscious "with the prospect of recovery now uncertain," police said.
While stressing that no conclusions have been drawn, detectives are investigating whether the assault was fueled by bias, police said.

It's not the first violent incident in the area. A man was killed while staying in a homeless encampment there in 2014. Forrest Bryant, 40, a transient who was new to Burlington, died after he was allegedly struck in the head by Mark Delude. His death drew attention to homeless encampments in the city.

Authorities did not charge Delude, who claimed he acted in self-defense. Delude died in 2015.

Police asked anyone with information about the recent assault to call either police or Champlain Valley Crimestoppers at (802) 864-6666.