Muhlaysia Booker | |
---|---|
Born | (1997-01-14)January 14, 1997 Dallas, Texas |
Died | May 18, 2019(2019-05-18) (aged 22) Dallas, Texas |
Cause of death | Gunshot wound |
Muhlaysia Booker (January 14, 1997 – May 18, 2019) was an African-American transgender woman whose filmed assault in Dallas, Texas went viral on social media. She was murdered a month later.
Attack
On April 12, 2019, Booker and a cousin went to see a fight in Royal Crest Apartments. Upon leaving, Booker backed into a car and tried to flee the scene. The driver got out of his car and held Booker until damages were paid. A crowd gathered around the altercation and Edward Thomas was offered $200 to assault Booker. Bystanders watched, videotaped, and yelled. The video was uploaded to social media and went viral. Booker had a concussion and fractured wrist. The Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings labeled it as "mob violence."
On April 14, 2019, Edward Thomas was charged with aggravated assault and held without bond in Dallas County jail. The police stated that his ankle monitor placed him at the location. He was eventually bonded at $75,000 at his court hearing and went back to jail on May 20. In October 2019, Thomas was convicted of a lesser charge of misdemeanor assault and sentenced to serve 300 days in jail.
After Booker's attack, supporters held a small rally. Booker spoke out about assault against the transgender community. Her cousin, Quanjasmine Baccus, said, "She was picked on because she is transgender."
Murder
At around 6:40 AM on May 18, 2019, police officers responded to reports of a shooting near Tenison Park Golf Course, where Booker was found dead from a gunshot wound. Kendrell Lyles, a 34-year old man, was arrested and charged with Booker's murder, as well as two other killings. Police said that earlier, Booker was seen getting into a light-colored Lincoln, matching the description of Lyles' car. Police discovered phone records between Booker and Lyles, placing him in the area.
In November 2023, Lyles plead guilty to murder and was sentenced to 48 years in prison. He is also charged in the murders of Leticia Grant and Kenneth Cichocki.
See also
- History of violence against LGBT people in the United States
- List of acts of violence against LGBT people
References
- "Obituary for MUHLAYSIA BOOKER". Golden Gate Funeral Home. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- ^ "Man Arrested In Connection With Brutal Beating Of Dallas Transgender Woman". Essence. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- ^ EXCLUSIVE: MUHLAYSIA BOOKER MOTHER SPEAKS OUT (FULL INTERVIEW). The Armon Wiggins Show. 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- Wallace, Terry. "Man charged in the deaths of 3 women in Dallas, including transgender woman Muhlaysia Booker". Insider. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ "Texas transgender woman seen in videotaped attack found dead". CBS News. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "The Transgender Woman Who Was Beaten In Dallas Last Month Was Fatally Shot". BuzzFeed News. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
- ^ "Man charged with beating Muhlaysia Booker ordered back to Dallas County jail, held without bail". Dallas News. 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- Guerrero, Maria; Blake, Chris (15 April 2019). "More Arrests Likely in Assault on Transgender Woman: PD". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- "Jury Convicts Edward Thomas Of Assault On Transgender Woman Muhlaysia Booker - CBS Texas". www.cbsnews.com. 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ "Trans Woman Seen in Brutal Beating Video Speaks Out: "I Will Remain Strong" | NewNowNext". www.newnownext.com. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- "Arrest made in homicide of transgender woman in Dallas". www.cbsnews.com. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- Miller, Justin (2019-06-13). "Dallas Police Arrest Suspect in Murder of Muhlaysia Booker and Link Him to Another Transgender Woman's Slaying". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- Arshad, Minnah (2023-11-07). "Man sentenced to 48 years in prison for Dallas murder of Muhlaysia Booker". USA Today. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- 1997 births
- 2019 deaths
- Violence against trans women
- American transgender women
- African-American LGBTQ people
- People murdered in Texas
- LGBTQ people from Texas
- People from Dallas
- Deaths by firearm in Texas
- 21st-century American LGBTQ people
- 21st-century people from Texas
- 21st-century African-American people
- 21st-century African-American women
- 21st-century American women