Scroll To Top
Crime

Trans Woman Killed by L.A. Motorist Was Fleeing Attackers, Family Says

Rayanna Pardo

Rayanna Pardo, 26, died after being struck by a car last week, and her family wants her death investigated as a murder and a hate crime.

trudestress

A transgender Latinx woman died when struck by a car after being harassed last week in Los Angeles, and friends, family, and activists say her death should be investigated as a murder and a hate crime.

Rayanna Pardo, 26, was killed on the city's east side Wednesday night, L.A. TV station KCBS reports. Security video shows her being followed by a group of people down Eastern Avenue, and her family wants police to determine if she ran into the street to get away from her harassers or even may have been pushed. She often faced such mistreatment, family members said. The motorist has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The TransLatin@ Coalition, along with Pardo's friends and relatives, held a candlelight vigil Saturday to honor her life and memory. "Rayanna was such a beautiful young person who just wanted to live her life and be herself," Bamby Salcedo, president of the TransLatin@ Coalition, said at the event.

"I can't even sleep," said Monica Pardo, Rayanna's mother. "Every time I close my eyes, I just picture [her] getting hit by a car, and so I stay awake."

Seeing the turnout of people to memorialize Rayanna did provide some comfort, said Adriana Rangel, her sister. "It brings peace of mind," Rangel said. "Like, you know what? There's people out there who do care, and that's what my sister needed help with."

"Everybody should just love everybody," said Armando Rangel Jr., Rayanna's brother. "At the end of the day that's all we have, is one another."

If Rayanna Pardo's death is ruled a homicide, she would be the 12th trans, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming person known to have died by violence in the U.S. this year. Last year saw a record number of such deaths, 44. There are likely many more that are not counted because the victims are misgendered or their deaths not reported at all.

trudestress
30 Years of Out100Out / Advocate Magazine - Jonathan Groff & Wayne Brady

From our Sponsors

Most Popular

Latest Stories

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.