Four arrested in homeless trans man case
Four people have been arrested after a fatal stabbing of a homeless trans man.
Amos Beede was found injured in an encampment near Burlington, Vermont on May 22. He had suffered multiple blunt force injuries to his face and head, causing internal bleeding, and numerous broken ribs. Although he was alive at the time, he later died in hospital.
Following a national manhunt, four suspects have now been arrested in San Diego, California.
Erik Averill, Myia Barber, Allison Gee and Jordan Paul were wanted on suspicion of second-degree murder and had been seen in Roswell, New Mexico. They were found in a park, after a tip off from Burlington Police.
Sergeant Michael Tansey, of San Diego Police, said that the group would be held until officers in Vermont were able to bring charges against them.
Although he was taken to hospital and his condition had been improving, police announced Mr Beede had taken a turn for the worst and succumbed to his injuries on May 29.
Chief of Burlington Police, Brandon del Pozo, said at the time that the investigation suggested the motives were not linked to the 38-year-old’s trans status, but detectives had “not ruled out the victim’s transgender status as a possible additional motive”.
“Until the attendant facts are clarified, we will continue to view this homicide as a possible bias incident,” he said in a statement.
“An autopsy will reveal the cause of death.”
Last month, a trans woman in New York filmed being taunted on the Subway, as no passengers jumped in to help her.
LGBT advocacy groups have repeatedly said, people who identify as transgender face disproportionate barriers to basic rights and needs compared to the general population. This includes from access to education, employment, housing and health care to fair treatment in restaurants, stores, public spaces, hospitals and other public places.
Conditions are not expected to improve as an number of states move forward with anti-trans discrimination bills.
Last week, in what could be seen as a more positive note, the University of North Carolina announced it will be defying HB2.
Some have suggested this could lead to the bill’s downfall.
