Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Nikki Turrietta was a 31-year-old trans woman living in Albuquerquee, New Mexico. She was found shot to death on December 31, 2021, but misgendering delayed notification of the community.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, she attended Rio Grande High School and Amy Biehl High School, and studied at the University of New Mexico. When correcting their reporting, KOB in Albuquerque shared “Close friends have told KOB 4 that Turrietta came out as transgender in 2017, asking others to use she/her pronouns and call her Nikki.”

Nikki’s death was discovered by friends. According to the Albuquerque Journal

inside a home near Mountain and Broadway NE after friends reported seeing her unconscious through the window. Police initially believed Turrietta died from an overdose but an autopsy found a gunshot wound under her hair.

Her family are pleading with the public to come forward with information. From KOB4

Family members say they have no idea why someone would kill them and, as they grieve, they’re asking for the public’s help to catch the killer, urging people to come forward with any information that could help investigators.

“We want justice. We’re desperate for answers. We want to know what happened,” Struck said. “Somebody’s got to know something. They didn’t commit suicide.”

Much like the death of Za’Niyah Williams whose 2021 death was also confirmed in 2022, Nikki is the fourth trans whose death has been reported in 2022.

Nikki is the fourth transgender person reported as a victim of fatal violence in 2022. She is the fourth trans woman. Three victims were Black trans women, all under the age of 25. Nikki at 31 is the oldest on the list. Their deaths come on the heels of the most violent year in recorded history with the deaths of 51 trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people in the United States alone.

So heartbreaking.

Rest in power, Nikki. Your friends have continued to advocate for you to ensure that your death was not swept away. They loved you a lot. You deserved so many more years to thrive and bloom. And you deserved for your story to be known immediately. I am sorry we have not created a safer world for you.

May your memory be a revolution.

This is our list of transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming neighbors who have been victims of the campaign of terror in 2022. Please do not copy or share this list without attribution. The list for 2021 is available.

1. Amäriey Lèį (Myara) – Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. January 1, 2022. Age 20. 
2. Duval Princess – Jacksonville, Florida. January 2, 2022. Age 24.
3. Za’Niyah Williams – Houston, Texas. December 20, 2021, reported on Jan 5, 2022. Age 21.
4. Nikki Turrietta – Albuquerque, New Mexico, December 31, 2021, reported on January 27, 2022. Age 31.