Woman shot dead becomes eleventh trans murder of 2018 in US
A woman killed in a drive-by shooting in Jacksonville, Florida, has become the 11th reported murder of a transgender person in the US in 2018.
Antash’a English, 38, was found lying between two derelict homes with gunshot wounds on Friday morning, reports Action News Jax. She was taken to hospital but died from her injuries.
A police report stated that English was urinating in a gap between the properties when she was shot multiple times by a person driving by in a grey car.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has said it launched a murder investigation, according to Action News Jax.
English describes herself on her Facebook page as an “independent” transgender woman, who “thrives on being the best person.”
Incahoots Nightclub, where English had regularly performed for nearly 10 years, is holding a benefit show in tribute to English on Thursday at 9.30pm, with performances by English’s friends.
Friends are also having a candlelit vigil to remember English in Sidney Green Park on Thursday at 7:30pm.
The event page for the vigil and benefit show states: “Greetings friends to honor our beloved Antasha Devine Sherrington English, we are asking you to come out and celebrate her life with a candlelight vigil and balloon release.”
(Facebook)
It continues: “Upon the completion of the vigil, we will walk from the park to Incahoots showing our love for Shay and all other transgender and LGBTQIA friends that we have lost over the years and our continued fight for equal rights in the world.
“We will be providing 38 candles and balloons to mark the number of years, this world has been blessed with Shay’s presence. All are invited to bring candles of their own if you would like.”
English’s death becomes the eleventh reported murder of a transgender person so far this year.
Last month, trans-masculine and gender non-conforming Nino Fortson was shot dead following an argument in Atlanta, Georgia during the early hours of May 13.
(Nino Starr/Facebook)
Also in May, a trans woman, Roxana Hernández, died in US custody, with migrant groups blaming the death on the “medical negligence” on the part of American authorities – and accusing them of “institutional murder.”
Hernández, 33, died in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Lovelace Medical Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In a statement announcing Hernández’s death, ICE said that she had been admitted to hospital on 17 May with symptoms of pneumonia, dehydration and complications associated with HIV.
PinkNews has not included Hernández‘s death in the figure of 11 reported murders of trans people in 2018.
Since 2013, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has reported on 118 murders of transgender and non-binary people. Of these, 67 were the victims of gun violence.
Last year, the HRC Foundation and the Trans People of Color Coalition released a report documenting violence against trans gender people. It found that 2017 was the deadliest year on record for transgender people, particularly for trans women of colour.
