Emerging Pattern in D.C. Transgender Attacks?

Are transgender women in Washington, D.C., being targeted? Less than two weeks after the shooting death of one D.C. trans woman, another says she nearly suffered the same fate. Metropolitan Police are looking at the incidents as "a potential emerging pattern."

On July 20, Lashai Mclean was shot and killed in the 6100 block of Dix Street N.E. Police say the suspects are "two black males in their late teens to early 20s." Eleven days later, Tonya Harrell told authorities that shots were fired at her in the 6200 block of Dix Street N.E., just a block from where the Mclean slaying occurred. Harrell managed to escape unharmed from the suspect, "a black male, 17-19 years old, 5'6", 180 lbs, dark complexion," who approached the victim on foot, asked for change, and then pulled out a handgun and fired.

MPD deputy chief Diane Groomes told Metro Weekly that while she can't confirm the shootings are related, the circumstances are "identical."

"When I heard what occurred, to me it kind of seems like an identical situation," she said. "The facts were two people approach a transgender woman, in this case around 3 a.m., we do not know what words were said [to Mclean]; this one ... approached Tonya and said, 'Give me change.' When she walked away, one yelled at her and shoots at her."

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