Trans Teen Arrested in Texas After Fight; Was It Self-Defense?

A transgender teen was arrested and charged with assault Tuesday in Tomball, Texas, after a fight with two of her fellow high school students -- but the incident may have been a response to bullying.

The 17-year-old, identified by local media as Tra'vez Perry, was involved in an altercation with a male and a female student at Tomball High School, the Houston Chronicle reports. She kicked the male student in the face and head, according to a police report cited by the paper.

"A video obtained by police showed Perry grabbing the female victim by the hair while punching her in the face, according to the police report," the Chronicle notes. "Perry then charged over to the male victim and pushed him to the ground, the report alleged." She also is accused of kneeing the girl in the nose. Both students were treated at a hospital, and the girl may have sustained a broken nose.

Perry told police that the students had been bullying her and putting her photos up online, without her permission, with unsavory, transphobic captions. Her attorney backed up the claim.

Perry was charged with misdemeanor assault and is out on bond. "There's more to this story than meets the eye," her attorney told a judge at her arraignment hearing Wednesday.

The attorney did not provide details beyond saying Perry, who previously lived in Dallas, had been living in the Houston area (Tomball is a suburb) for a month and a half in the custody of Child Protective Services.

Tomball Independent School District administrators are aware of the situation and are working with police to address it, a spokeswoman told local media. "Tomball ISD will not tolerate this behavior and will apply the student code of conduct in a stern and efficient manner," said spokeswoman Allison McClain.