A trans man has been killed in a police shooting
A transgender man was reportedly shot and killed by a police officer in Pennsylvania on Friday.
Sean Ryan Hake was killed when police responded to a domestic assault call at his home in Sharon.
Details of the call have yet to be provided by police, but confirmed that the shooting involved an officer.
The 23-year-old is the third trans person to have been killed in America in 2017.
A local paper, the Sharon Herald, has come under fire by Hake friends and family after misgendering him in reports.
“They reported he was a female,” a friend wrote on Facebook. “His name was Sean Ryan Hake. His licence said male. The State of Pennsylvania recognized he was a man.”
Miles K. Karson Jr, a Mercer County District attorney, told the Sharon Herald that he could not comment on the ongoing investigation.
Carson did confirm that more information should be released by Wednesday.
“Our goal is to have a complete investigation and have complete transparency,” he said. “But it’s going to take a few days.”
Hake was arrested twice in the past for violation of order, reports WKNB.
“He had a genuinely good heart and he had struggled with his problems,’ a friend told WKBN. ‘But he always made sure that he was there for other people.”
The officer who shot Hake has been placed on paid administrative leave until the investigation is finished.
Friends have shared messages of love with Hake on his Facebook.
“I hate your life was taken right before it was getting ready to begin. This breaks my heart. Condolences to his family and friends.”
“Another brother lost. I can only hope your loved ones can find peace after all this.”
This makes my heart hurt so much today. You were so happy and so ready for what life was bringing your way, you were about to receive many blessings in your life. And in seconds that was all stripped from you, and now you are gone. This just shows how fragile life is. Fly high angel and look over all of your friends and loved ones. They are all hurting right now.”
