Sophie Lee, a Black trans woman, killed in Baltimore: ‘She was loved. She mattered’

This story originally appeared on Them.

Sophie Lee, a Black transgender woman, was shot and killed in Baltimore on Friday morning, per a report in local ABC affiliate WMAR. Police are still looking for a suspect in Lee’s death, as well as a motive, per NBC affiliate WBAL.

While initial reports said that Lee had not been identified, local nonprofit organization Baltimore Safe Haven (BSH) identified Lee to reporters. Lee was a former client and friend to many at Safe Haven, a Black and trans-led organization that provides housing, health and support services to the LGBTQ+ community.

“This is not only a former client of ours, but is also a friend of many of the people here on our staff, and it has affected us greatly, greatly, greatly,” special project coordinator Renee Lau from BSH told WBAL on Friday. “We had to have a meeting this morning to make sure staff was OK to even start to open the doors this morning.”

“SOPHIE WAS SOMEBODY’S CHILD. SHE DESERVED TO LIVE,” BSH wrote on its Facebook page on Friday evening. “Sophie deserved another birthday. Another laugh. Another chance to love, dream, and grow old. Being transgender should never cost someone their life.”

BSH planned a vigil for Lee on Sunday evening and shared footage from the event on its Facebook page, as well.

The video features a woman singing with the caption: “Vigil for Sophie Lee. Vogue in Peace,” along with several trans flag emojis. “We thank you for her life,” the singer says, as others join in.

BSH has also started a GoFundMe on Friday in honor of Sophie Lee, with a goal of $4,800 dollars, of which they have raised nearly $4,000 as of this writing.

Lee was raised in Baltimore and had ties to several ballroom houses, including Gabbana, Voltaire, Pink Lady and the House of Champions (House of Balenciaga), per Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents. Her social media feed includes footage from ballroom performances and a post about her pride in being named the Best New Overall Mother at one event this past spring.

In social media posts, Lee also advocated for greater acceptance of trans women in lesbian spaces, per Pgh Lesbian.

Iya Dammons, CEO of BSH, said in a statement that Lee was “more than what happened to her.”

“She was a person. She was loved. She mattered,” Damons said, per Pgh Lesbian. “She deserved the opportunity to live, grow, laugh, love, and simply exist safely as herself. We are coming together to honor Sophie’s life, mourn her loss, and surround those who loved her with community.”

Lee is the 23rd reported trans woman killed in 2026, per Pgh Lesbian. Of those 23, thirteen identified as Black trans women. Lee’s death also comes only about 10 weeks after the killing of Asia Williams, another Black trans woman living in Baltimore.

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