Sasha Wall Is At Least the Eighth Trans Person Killed Nationwide This Year; Fifth Killed by Gun Violence
2017 Was the Deadliest Year on Record for Transgender People in the U.S. With at Least 28 Killed Nationwide, 20 of Whom Were Shot and Killed; 24 Were Trans Women of Color
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. – The South Carolina chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement in response to the shooting death of a trans woman in Chesterfield County. According to reports, Sasha Wall was shot multiple times and killed Sunday morning in her car.
Sasha is at least the eighth transgender woman killed nationwide this year and is the fifth to be killed by gun violence. 2017 was the deadliest year on record for the transgender community in the United States, with at least 28 trans homicides. Twenty-four of the victims were trans women of color and 20 were killed with a gun.
STATEMENT FROM JACKIE SHELLEY, VOLUNTEER LEADER WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Our hearts go out to Sasha’s family and friends and the entire LGBTQI community in South Carolina. This is a heartbreaking and devastating reminder that gun violence disproportionately affects the most marginalized communities in our country everyday, including Black trans women. It is time our lawmakers join the fight to prioritize public safety for all Americans. Too many lives are on the line.”