Derricka Banner, a transgender woman, was shot and killed early Tuesday morning. She is the 20th transgender person murdered in the U.S this year.
Banner, 26, was found in her vehicle at around 3:00 AM Tuesday morning in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was pronounced dead at scene having suffered from a gunshot wound.
Detectives have charged Montavious Sanchez Berry, 18, with murder, armed robbery, and shooting into an occupied vehicle in relation to the incident. This is his third arrest the past two years in Mecklenburg County. According to the Charlotte Observer, Banner and Berry had a history and they “had communicated on previous occasions.”
Banner was born in the Bronx, New York. She also went by the nickname “Ms. Bow Bow.” Her tragic death comes just as North Carolina’s Trans Pride event begins on September 15th. Her funeral service will be held on Sunday, September 17th, at 2:00 PM.
Rest in power Derricka Banner.
Here are the names of the 20 victims of transgender murders in 2017:
Mesha Caldwell, 41 years old
Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, 28 years old
JoJo Striker, 23 years old
Jaqarrius Holland, 18 years old
Keke Collier, 24 years old
Chyna Gibson, 31 years old
Ciara McElveen, 21 years old
Alphonza Watson, 38 years old
Chay Reed, 28 years old
Kenneth Bostick, 59 years old
Sherrell Faulkner, 46 years old
Kenne McFadden, 26 years old
Josie Berrios, 28 years old
Ava Le’Ray Barrin, 17 years old
Ebony Morgan, 28 years old
TeeTee Dangerfield, 32 years old
Gwynevere River Song, 26 years old
Kiwi Herring, 30 years old
Kashmire Redd, 28 years old
Derricka Banner, 26 years old