Derricka Banner is the 20th trans person to be killed in the US this year

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Derricka Banner, who was shot this week becomes the 20th trans person unlawfully killed in the US in 2017.

Banner, 26, was found fatally shot in a vehicle early on Tuesday morning in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The trans woman, who also went by the name Ms Bow Bow according to social media posts, was originally from New York and lived in Lenoir.

Montavious Sanchez Berry, 18, was arrested on Tuesday and charged in the murder of Banner.

Derricka Banner is the 20th trans person to be killed in the US this year

But the investigation was still ongoing as of Wednesday, says the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

The shooting of Banner comes just days before Charlotte is set to host North Carolina’s Trans Pride 2017.

Organisers of the Pride event do plan to honour Banner at the event with a “community altar space”.

Trans man Kashmire Redd, 28, was stabbed several times and killed last week, allegedly during an argument between him and Doris Carrasquillo (pictured below), who he shared an apartment with, becoming the 19th trans person to be killed in the US this year.

Redd’s death comes just weeks after Kiwi Herring was shot dead by local police in Missouri.

Herring was the 18th trans person to be killed this year, and the rest of the victims are largely trans women of colour.

Twitter MissJupiter1957
(Twitter/MissJupiter1957)

Earlier this month, TeeTee Dangerfield was shot outside of an apartment complex in Atlanta.

The murder of Dangerfield came just days after “comedian” Lil’ Duval went on the radio show the Breakfast Club and “joked” about killing trans women.

Duval, real name Roland Powell, said that if he found out somebody was trans after having sex with them, he would kill them.

41-year-old Mesha Caldwell was shot to death in Mississippi in January and no suspects have been arrested as yet.

Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow was a 28-year-old who identified as trans and two spirit. She was found dead at her home in South Dakota in January. Joshua Rayvon LeClaire has been charged with her murder.

JoJo Striker was killed in Ohio in February. The 23-year-old was cherished by friends and family.

Tiara Richmond, also known as KeKe Collier, was shot in Chicago at the age of 24 in February.


31-year-old Chyna Doll Dupree was shot and killed in New Orleans in February. She was a celebrated performer in the community.

Twitter MissJupiter1957
(Twitter/MissJupiter1957)

Ciara McElveen, 31, was stabbed to death in New Orleans two days after Dupree.

Jaquarrius Holand was 18 when she was shot to death in Monroe, Louisiana in February.

38-year-old Alphonza Watson was shot and killed in Baltimore, Maryland in March. She was described as the “sunshine” of her family.

Chay Reed, 28, was shot to death in April in Miami.

Brenda Bostick was a 59-year-old homeless trans woman who was found with severe injuries in Manhattan. It’s important to note that Bostick may not have identified as trans at the time of their death, according to the family.

Sherrell Faulkner died in May at the age of 46 after being viciously attacked in November in North Carolina. The attacker has not yet been apprehended.

27-year-old Kenne McFadden was found dead in April in the San Antonio River. It’s believed that she was pushed to her death, although police are yet to have made arrests.

Kendra Marie Adams (Josie Berrios) was found in dead in June with severe burns on her body. Michael Davis has been charged with the murder of the 28-year-old.

Ava Le’Ray Barrin was shot and killed in Georgia at just 17 in June.

Ebony Morgan, 28, was shot multiple times in Virginia at the start of July.