Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

Tahiry Broom, a 29-year-old Black transgender woman, was shot and killed on Sunday morning, February 9, in Southfield, Michigan. She was visiting Detroit from Cleveland. Tahiry’s nickname was Tokyo.

According to WXYZ, Robert Ridges III, 28, met her through a commercial sex advertisement and met up on Sunday, Feb. 9, near Ridges’ apartment in Southfield. After an argument, they say Ridges allegedly shot Tahiry. He is charged with second-degree murder, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm in the case.

Police responded to the 25000 block of Shiawassee Road for a report of an unresponsive person around 10:14 a.m. on Feb. 9. When they arrived, they found Tahiry lying in the parking lot of the Riverstone Apartments with a single gunshot wound to the right side of her head. Tahiry died at the scene per CBSMichigan

Southfield Police Chief Elvin Barren said Ridges placed 33 phone calls to various sex workers the morning of the shooting. Barren said mostly all the people Ridges sought out were Black females, including members of the transgender community.

When they executed a search warrant officers recovered a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun and ammunition. The gun was reported stolen out of Georgia on July 23, 2023.

It is like he went hunting sex workers. That metaphor sprang right to my mind when I read the original reporting. He had a plan to kill a Black female sex worker. He used a stolen gun. He shot Tahiry in the head, left her to die, returned the gun to his house,and then went to a casino where he was arrested. That sounds absurd and warped. But hunting entire groups of people is a new national pasttime for unelected governmental leaders. Why should it be any different for the average Joe?

If convicted of second-degree murder, Ridges faces up to life in prison without parole. He’s due back in court on Feb. 26. 

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Southfield Police Department at 248-796-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 800-SPEAK-UP. 

“What continues to happen is by the trans community being labeled as the other and constantly ostracized, it allows for victimization to creep in at every angle … harassment, discrimination, violence, the threat of, or essentially in this case, murder. Hatred breeds hatred,” said trans advocate Jeynce Poindexter.

Honoring Tahiry

Tahiry was born on March 1, 1995 in Cleveland, Ohio. According to her social media, she enjoyed pretty things, was a self-described shopaholic and unabashedly earning money to buy things. She was a fan of Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. She liked Forever 21 and Hot Topic. She was a vibrant young woman who enjoyed life. Tahiry was also known as Tokyo.

Tahiry’s family loved her. They loved her so much you can feel their heartache in their words.

Patricia Bender says her niece loved making people laugh, was full of energy and confidence.

She posted on Instagram

Guess since ive responded to all the negative shit.. lets just say I’m her favorite auntie, we were legit raised like siblings except I’m 5 years older. My baby is sweet, pure, giving, humorous will do anything for anyone and shines a light so bright you’ll see it shine forever. My family is really hurting from this loss but justice will be served. Tahiry’s name will live on forever.

Her family has organized a memorial gathering on Valentine’s Day in Cleveland. There is no word on final arrangements.

Theu also set up a GoFundMe

Her aunt offered to talk with me in more detail to share Tahiry’s whole story, not just how she died. We’ll pursue that after she’s been laid to rest.

The Context

Tahiry’s killing is the first reported in 2025.

In 2024, we reported on the deaths of 34 individuals. 21 of those individuals were Black trans folx.

In 2023, Ashia Davis and Jean Thomas Butchart  were killed in Michigan. In 2023, Naomie Skinner, Ray Muscat, and Hayden Davis were killed. Tahiry is from Cleveland, just two hours away from my home in Pittsburgh. Cleveland was also home to Cemia Acoff, the very first memorial post I wrote in 2013.

If there was ever a time for you, my reader, to stand up with the trans community, that time is now. While I’m actually shocked the first death – Tahiry’s death – has been reported in mid-February, I am gravely worried about the rest of the year. So stand with Tahiry. They caught the killer, but we need to know why – why he had a stolen gun, why he called 30+ sex workers (both cis and trans) earlier in the day, and why he made other choices like going to a casino.

Rest in power, Tahiry. You deserved so many more years to enjoy your life. You deserved to visit a friend without fear of being shot to death. I hope the love of your family reaches you. We will work harder to create a safer world for all our trans neighbors.

May your memory be a revolution.

Deaths reported in 2025

1. Tahiry ‘Tokyo’ Broom – February 9, 2025. Detroit, Michigan. Age 29.