Trans Woman Shot Dead in North Carolina During Hurricane
A 26-year-old trans woman, Derricka Banner, was found shot to death in a car on Tuesday morning. Banner’s death marks the 20th transgender person murdered this year; at least 22 trans people were killed in all of 2016. Most of the victims this year and last have been trans women of color.
Montavious Sanchez Berry, the 18-year-old suspect, was arrested later that day. According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, he has been charged with Banner’s murder, as well as armed robbery and shooting into an occupied vehicle. This has been his third arrest in two years. He was previously charged with possession of marijuana paraphernalia, resisting an officer, and possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage on government property, which a trial is currently pending for. Berry was also arrested for marijuana possession and intent to distribute last year, but those charges were dismissed.
Banner was found by police dead during Hurricane Irma around northwest Charlotte in the 1400 block of Rosetta Street, not far from the Northwest School of the Arts.
Numerous news sources have misgendered Derricka Banner, and reported the victim as male. (via Advocate)