Charlotte Woman Becomes 20th Trans Person Murdered in 2017

A 26-year-old trans woman, Derricka Banner, was found shot to death in a car in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday morning. Banner's death marks the 20th transgender person murdered this year; at least 27 trans people were killed in all of 2016. Most of the victims this year and last have been trans women of color.

Montavious Sanchez Berry, 18, was arrested later that day, The Charlotte Observer reports. According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, he has been charged with Banner's murder as well as armed robbery and shooting into an occupied vehicle. This was his third arrest in two years. He was previously charged with possession of marijuana paraphernalia, resisting an officer, and possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage on government property, for which a trial is currently pending. Berry was also arrested for marijuana possession and intent to distribute last year, but those charges were dismissed.

Banner's body was found by police amid rain and high winds associated with Tropical Storm Irma around northwest Charlotte in the 1400 block of Rosetta Street, not far from the Northwest School of the Arts.

Numerous news sources have misgendered Banner and reported the victim as male.