Truck driver ‘shot trans woman in the chest’ in transphobic hate crime
File photo
A truck driver allegedly pulled up to a trans woman in Dallas, yelled transphobic slurs at her before shooting her multiple times in the chest and arm, city police have reported.
The drive-by gun down at around 11:05pm last Friday resulted in the 35-year-old Latina trans woman being hospitalised, according to a police news release.
She received emergency treatment following the attack on the 11000 block on Dennis Road, a residential neighbourhood in northwest Dallas.
The injuries resulted in her being unable to talk to investigators until Sunday morning, the release added.
Trans woman shot in the late hours in Dallas
A trans woman was a victim of a drive-by shooting on the 11000 block of Dennis Road, Dallas, Texas. (PinkNews)
Detectives at the Dallas Police Department have asked the public for help in identifying the suspect, described as a “Latin male” in what the force are treating as a hate crime.
Police released photographs of the suspect’s vehicle, “a red Chevrolet truck with large aftermarket rims.” This means that the rims were bought separately from the vehicle.
(Dallas Police Department)
(Dallas Police Department)
Anyone with information is asked to contact Special Investigations Unit Detective M. Yeric, #7178, at (214) 283-4803.
19 trans people killed in 2019
While the victim survived her wounds, her injuries come at a frightening time for the trans community in Dallas.
The Texan city, a mixture of polished, silver skyscrapers and gap-toothed old town buildings, has witnessed a string of killings of trans women.
In the last year, three trans women have been killed in a spree targeting one of the most marginalised communities in the city.
Chynal Lindsey, 26, was pulled out go White Rock Lake in June, which made her the second trans woman killed in the space of just two weeks.
(Chynal Lindsey/Facebook)
Moreover, she became eighth trans woman to be murdered in the city since 2015, reports state.
Trans community leaders and activists have expressed concern over the escalating reports of fatal and near-fatal attacks against trans folk.
“This most recent attack was uncalled for and could easily have been the third murder of a trans woman in Dallas this year,” Leslie McMurray, insurance assistance coordinate for Resource Centre Dallas, which offers an array of trans support groups told PinkNews.
McMurray pointed towards the lack of legislative protections for trans Texans, such as in housing and employment, and the Trump administration’s ruthless rescinding of trans-positive measures.
She added: “If the state and federal government don’t believe our live have value worth protecting – how can we expect violent armed predators to believe it?”
Trans violence is “bringing [the trans community] together” says community leader
However, the local trans community in Dallas remain in high sprits, McMurray said.
The violence is “bringing us together. Nobody I’ve spoken to is living their life in fear.
“This has our attention and we are dedicated to advocating for our own safety and rights as well as educating those who don’t understand that transgender people aren’t a threat to anyone–we are just another flavour of ice cream.”
Fatal attacks on trans women have soared in recent years, with black trans women the most frequent targets, according to human rights charities.
This spectre of violence has seen at least 19 trans people have been killed in 2019, 18 of which are trans women of colour.
Their names are Dana Martin, Jazzaline Ware, Ashanti Carmon, Claire Legato, Muhlaysia Booker, Michelle Washington, Paris Cameron, Chynal Lindsey, Chanel Scurlock, Zoe Spears, Brooklyn Lindsey, Denali Berries Stuckey, Kiki Fantroy and Pebbles LaDime Doe. Tracy Single, Bailey Reeves, Bee Love Slater and Ja’leyah-Jamar.
The LGBT+ community has also this year mourned Jordan Cofer, a white trans man who was killed in a mass shooting.
