Transgender Woman Murdered in South Carolina
Transgender woman Denali Berries Stuckey was murdered in South Carolina, making her the 12th trans person killed in the country since the beginning of 2019.
The body of 29-year-old Stuckey was found shot to death on the side of the road in North Charleston on July 20, according to ABC News. Her death was ruled a homicide by the coroner’s office.
A suspect or motive have not yet been identified, but police are investigating into whether the murder was a hate crime.
The Alliance for Full Acceptance, along with the local transgender community, held a vigil for Stuckey the following Monday outside of a local LGBTQ center known as the Equality Hub.
“I am heartbroken and outraged by the news of yet another murder of one of our transgender community members,” Alliance for Full Acceptance Executive Director Chase Glenn said in a statement. “Denali is the third known black trans woman to have been murdered in South Carolina since 2018.”
“While the greater community may be either unaware or disinterested in this news,” Glenn continued, “it is important to understand the epidemic of violence against trans women of color and the crisis pint at which we are now and have been for years.”
Many mourned Stuckey online, including some of the democratic presidential candidates like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris.
“Denali Berries Stuckey is at least the 12th Black trans women killed this year. We cannot ignore this violence,” said Harris in her Twitter post. “Transgender people deserve to live openly without fear.”
Stuckey’s family held a private funeral for her on July 27. Stuckey is survived by her mother, father, grandmother, godfather, and “a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and many loving friends.”