Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

This is the list of trans folx whose violent deaths have been reported and recorded in the US this year, to date. And some updates …

Eight reported deaths and surprisingly some updates in all but one case. Four arrests, two persons of interest identified, one independent autopsy identifying law enforcement officers as the the cause of death, and one case with no update mostly likely because she was killed in a murder-suicide. I’ve also included the recent update in the 2020 murder of Brian Egypt Powers in Akron.

This is our list of transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming neighbors who have been victims of the campaign of terror in 2023. Please do not copy, modify, or share this list without attribution.  

1. Jasmine ‘Star’ Mack – District of Columbia, January 7, 2023. Age 36.
2. KC Johnson – Wilmington, North Carolina, January 13, 2023. Age 27.
3. Tortuguita – Weelaunee Forest, Georgia, January 18, 2023. Age 26.
4. Unique Banks – Chicago, Illinois, January 23, 2023. Age 21.
5. Zachee Imanitwitaho – Louisville, Kentucky, February 3, 2023. Age 26.
6. Maria Jose Rivera Rivera – Houston, Texas, January 21, 2023. Age 22.
7. Cashay Henderson – Milwaukee, Wisconsin, February 27, 2023. Age 31.
8. Tasiyah ‘Siyah’ Woodland – Mechanicsville, Maryland, March 24, 2023. Age 18.

Jasmine ‘Star’ Mack

D.C. police on Feb. 1 released a video showing what they say is a person and vehicle of interest in connection with the Jan. 7 murder of transgender woman Jasmine Star Parker, who was found fatally stabbed shortly before 3 a.m. on the 2000 block of Gallaudet St., N.E.

The video, which police obtained from a nearby surveillance camera, shows a car driving along Gallaudet Street and then pulling over to the side and parking, with what appears to be a man getting out of the driver’s door and walking in the same direction that he was driving the car.

“Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch seek the public’s information in identifying and locating a person and a vehicle of interest” related to the video and the Parker murder, a police statement accompanying the video says.

KC Johnson

William Hicks has been charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping and financial card theft. (source)

Tortuguita

They were shot after raising hands and being shot from head to toe by police nearly two months ago near Atlanta. The autopsy identified 14 separate gunshot injuries. The autopsy, conducted by a former state medical examiner, Dr. Kris Sperry, showed the fatal wound was a shot through Tortuguita’s right eye, along with other wounds to the left upper chest, abdomen, arms and leg, lawyers said. (source)

Unique Banks

Prosecutors have declined to charge a man identified as the person who burst into a South Shore apartment last month and opened fire. He was arrested but ultimately released from custody on Jan. 29. The Sun-Times isn’t identifying the suspect because he hasn’t been charged with a crime. The arrest report shows felony charges weren’t brought by prosecutors and the case was marked as a continuing investigation. It was kicked back to police “pending further investigation.” (source)

Zachee Imanitwitaho 

The judge raised Edilberto Lores Reyes’ bond from $100,000 to 150,000 and determined Reyes was a “danger to the community.” No motive in the alleged murder was discussed during today’s hearing. The case will move to a grand jury in March. (source)

Maria Jose Rivera Rivers

no update.

Cashay Henderson

A criminal complaint filed against Cordell M. Howze, 33, of Neenah on Sunday. He was charged with first-degree reckless homicide and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. (source)

Tasiyah ‘Siyah’ Woodland

The St. Mary’s County, Md., Sheriff’s Office has charged a 29-year-old D.C. man with the March 24 shooting death of an 18-year-old transgender woman outside a bar in Mechanicsville, Md. Arrest on March 29, 2023. (source)

Arrest in 2020 Murder of Black Trans Person Brian Egypt Powers in Akron