Transgender Woman Killed in Detroit

Detroit police found Coko Williams, a 35-year-old transgender woman, shot to death Tuesday morning outside a Parkhurst-area home, local CBS affiliate WWJ reports.

Details about Williams's killing are sparse, though witnesses told police that the suspected killers fled the scene in a gold vehicle. While the area where her body was found is, according to WWJ, known for sex work, there's no indication that Williams was engaged in sex work at any point. One friend of Williams, named Dada, was quoted by Transfeminism.Tumblr.com as saying that Williams was "a really a sweet, quiet girl" who sometimes worked as a hairstylist.

The state's LGBT organiztion, Equality Michigan, issued a statement about Williams's death. "We are saddened to hear of yet another life ended too soon. Our thoughts go out to Ms. Williams' family and friends who have suffered a great loss," said Nusrat Ventimiglia, director of victim's services for Equality Michigan. "Transgender women are far too often victims of the most severe violence. We unequivocally offer our support to law enforcement and the community so that Coko Williams' killers are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice. We urge anyone with information about Coko's killing to contact the Detroit Police."

If you have information about Williams's killing, you can contact Detroit police at (313) 596-2260 or Crime Stoppers at www.1800speakup.org or by texting CSM and your tips to CRIMES (274637).