Merci Mack, a 22-year-old Black trans woman, was killed by gunshot to the head. She’s the 18th trans person murdered this year

Jul 03 2020
Written by Lily Wakefield

Merci Mack was just 22 years old when she was shot and left in a Dallas parking lot. (HRC)

Merci Mack, a 22-year-old Black transgender woman, was tragically killed by a gunshot to the head on June 30 in Texas, making her at least the 18th trans person murdered in the US so far this year.

According to Out, there were no eyewitnesses to her murder, and police are appealing to the public for help.

Local residents heard gunshots at around 5am. They did not call emergency services.

Mack was found unconscious in a Dallas parking lot by a passerby who called an ambulance at 6.15am, but the 22-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Mack recently posted on Facebook that she was excited to return to her job at a restaurant which has been closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

She loved baking cookies and relaxing in the jacuzzi.

on april 9th, #MerciMack posted this picture on facebook to commemorate her 22nd birthday. yesterday morning, she was found shot to death in a dallas parking lot. another trans woman's life stolen, and for what? because she dared to live it? pic.twitter.com/cWYjmGdMrN

— Kelley Rand (@kelley_rand) July 1, 2020

Tori Cooper, HRC director of community engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative, said in a statement: “Another Black transgender woman has had her life stolen from her.

“We cannot become numb to the fact that our community has learned of more killings of transgender and gender non-conforming people in the past few weeks than HRC has ever tracked in the past seven years.

“Her friends say that Merci Mack was a young, upbeat soul who deserved to experience a full life.

“HRC is mourning with Merci’s loved ones and are calling for a full, thorough investigation into her death.”

Merci Mack is at least the 18th trans person violently killed in the US in 2020.

In 2019, there were 27 trans people murdered in America. According to the LGBT+ rights organisation, Merci Mack is at least the 18th trans person who has been violently killed in the United States so far this year, just six months into 2020.

Since HRC began collecting data on the violent deaths of trans people in America, 10 per cent of killings have occurred in Texas. The state is tied with Florida for the greatest percentage of violent trans deaths nationwide.

Police are asking anyone with information in connection with Mack’s death to contact Dallas police Detective Brian Tabor at 214-671-3605 or [email protected].