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.
Family of #denaliberriesstuckey meets w/@NCPD Chief Burgess after candlelight vigil in #TransGender woman’s honor #LBGTQ #chsnews #chs #NorthCharleston @ABCNews4 pic.twitter.com/0mEc9MBBzb
— Jason Tighe (@jtighe08) July 23, 2019
“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.
The murders of Black trans women in America are a crisis. We must call it out and fight back, until everyone is free to be who they are without fear. Say her name: Denali Berries Stuckey. https://t.co/wXTAseFfio
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) July 23, 2019
Denali Stuckey should be alive today.
Over 140 trans women have been killed since 2013. We must all stand with the trans community against this bigotry, hate and violence. https://t.co/NnKtfL3AtN
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 23, 2019
Denali Berries Stuckey is at least the 12th Black trans women killed this year. We cannot ignore this violence. Transgender people deserve to live openly without fear.https://t.co/EMbM2TnyYH
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 24, 2019
Stuckey’s family held a private funeral for her last Saturday (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.”