WASHINGTON - A 27-year-old woman has been arrested in a shooting at a District of Columbia restaurant this month that police believe may have been motivated by anti-gay bias.

Police on Monday announced the arrest of LaShawn Carson. She's been charged with aggravated assault while armed in a March 11 shooting at an International House of Pancakes restaurant in Columbia Heights.

Police believe the shooting followed an argument that involved anti-gay epithets. A hate crime, if proven at trial, can lead to an enhanced sentence.

The victim is expected to be OK.

Police say the investigation was difficult and time-consuming but declined to give specifics.

Councilmember Jim Graham, who represents the area, called the arrest a relief and said the shooting was an "insane crime."

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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