Dallas bartender should face hate-crime charge in Deep Ellum beating, woman’s attorney says | Crime | Dallas News

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Austin Shuffield, 30, has been charged with assault causing bodily injury and interference with an emergency call, according to jail records.

The unidentified 24-year-old woman has hired civil rights attorney Lee Merritt. He issued a statement Friday saying Shuffield should face felony assault and hate-crime charges because he launched into a racist diatribe before the attack.

“Our office is speaking with the Dallas Police Department and the Dallas County District Attorney’s office to ensure all appropriate charges are pursued including felony assault, firearm and hate-crime related charges,” Merritt said in a written statement.

At a news conference Friday, Next Generation Action Network founder Dominique Alexander called for a protest Saturday in Deep Ellum if Shuffield does not get charged with a hate crime or aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.