Washington D.C. Police Investigating Violent Homicide Of Trans Woman
Washington D.C. police officers are investigating the violent death of a transgender woman.
According to NBC Washington, Anee Roberson was assaulted near Nellie’s Sports Bar, and struck by a vehicle as she attempted to escape. Law enforcement is looking into the possibility that her identity motivated the initial attack. The driver of the vehicle is not associated with the assault, and remained at the scene, cooperating with police.
The autopsy found Roberson died from multiple blunt force injuries and ruled the death a homicide, confirms a statement issued by the Metropolitan Police Department.
“It’s a tragedy,” said Iya Dammons of DC Safe Haven, an LGBTQ+ support services group. “She was really sweet and she was really a great, great individual,” adding “We’re asking for the mayor, we’re asking for the police department to step up and take these crimes serious.“
According to the PGH Lesbian Correspondents blog site, Roberson grew up in the nation’s capital and worked as a character escort with Six Flags America, and more recently was self-employed. She was a fan of media, Disney, Black history, music, and cosmetics. The platform recognizes Roberson as the 31st trans or gender-nonconforming person whose violent death has been reported in 2023.
Roberson’s killing occurred less than two weeks after another 30-year-old Black trans woman, Skylar Harrison, was found dead in Marvin Gaye Park in Washington D.C. According to Them, Harrison’s cause of death is still being investigated. Despite suggestions from law enforcement that she overdosed, Harrison’s aunt, Rhonda Hailes, believes she was killed in a hate crime.
In October 2022, CBS News reported that the number of trans people who were murdered in the U.S. nearly doubled between 2017 and 2021. While only 13% of the transgender community is estimated to be Black, Black trans women accounted for nearly three-quarters of the known victims.
The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Roberson’s murder. VIBE sends our condolences to the family, friends, and others impacted by the deaths of both Roberson and Harrison.
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