Loved ones remember trans woman Savannah Ryan Williams killed in ‘hate crime’ shooting
Family, friends, activists, and lawmakers united in grief this week to mourn the tragic loss of Savannah Ryan Williams, a trans woman who was killed in a targeted shooting that is being labeled a hate crime. The 38-year-old victim was fatally shot in the head on November 29, and her friends are adamant that her death was driven by transphobia and hatred.
A suspect has been charged with second-degree murder and reportedly confessed to the killing during a phone call with local police, according to court documents obtained by the NBC affiliate KARE11.
Minnesota’s first trans state lawmaker, Rep. Leigh Finke, expressed outrage over the incident, stating, Savannah should be alive today. Because Savannah is a trans woman, she is dead. Transphobia is rampant in America, and it is deadly. Our community faces a constant threat of lethal violence in the United States.
Gabrielle Stillday, Williams’ sister, fondly remembers her as her children’s favorite aunt, highlighting her compassion and kind-hearted nature. Savannah is our superstar, Stillday shared. She meant the world to me and my kids. She was very loved by our family.
Williams was an active member of Tea Time, a local support group where she and fellow members discussed the joys and challenges of being a trans woman. Amber Muhm, another individual from Tea Time, described the tragic incident as a hate crime and stressed the urgent need for change. It just needs to stop, Muhm emphasized. We have to be able to walk in public and not just be constantly looking over our shoulder and constantly worried about what’s going to happen.
Tea Time fondly remembers Williams as a fierce, vibrant woman with an expansive personality and an immense heart.
The suspect charged with second-degree murder is Damarean Kaylon Bible, a 25-year-old who claimed during police interviews that he shot Williams after engaging in oral sex with her and growing suspicious of her thereafter. In a phone call to his father from jail, Bible expressed remorse for his actions but stated that he felt compelled to commit the crime.
This appalling act of violence has triggered an impassioned plea for the protection of transgender individuals from targeted attacks. Activists, lawmakers, and grieving loved ones are demanding action to ensure the safety and well-being of the transgender community.
We have a right to life, asserted Rep. Leigh Finke. Savannah had a right to live; she should be alive. There is no other detail that matters. Being murdered and being murdered in the way that this happened is gruesome.
Despite Minnesota recently voting to become a trans refuge state, Finke highlighted the insufficiency of policies alone. In these conditions, policy cannot save us, she declared.
Anti-trans violence is an epidemic. It is everywhere. Our communities will not be safe until every one of our neighbors sees our humanity, celebrates our individuality and embraces this beautiful community that loves and is worthy of love.
Bible’s bail has been set at $1 million, and if found guilty of murder, he could face up to 40 years in prison. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to cover the costs of Savannah Ryan Williams’ memorial service, which is scheduled to take place over the weekend.
This tragic incident shines a harsh light on the ongoing challenges faced by transgender individuals and underscores the pressing need for increased awareness, understanding, and protection for this vulnerable community. The memory of Savannah Ryan Williams will forever remind us of the work that remains to be done in creating a safer and more inclusive world for all.
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