Muhlaysia Booker

Muhlaysia Booker (January 14, 1997 – May 18, 2019)[1][2] was a 22 year old African American transgender woman who was assaulted and then murdered a month later in Dallas, Texas.[3] The assault on her was captured in a video that was widely shared, sparking national attention.

Muhlaysia Booker
Born(1997-01-14)January 14, 1997
Dallas, Texas
DiedMay 18, 2019(2019-05-18) (aged 22)
Dallas, Texas
Cause of deathGunshot wound

Attack

On April 12, 2019, Muhlaysia Booker took her cousin to see a fight in Royal Crest Apartments.[4][3] Leaving the apartments, Booker backed into a car belonging to a friend of the driver and tried to flee the scene.[5][3][4] The driver got out of his car and held Booker at gunpoint until she paid for the damages. A crowd soon gathered around the altercation and Edward Thomas was offered $200 to assault Booker. Bystanders watched, videotaped, and yelled transphobic slurs while Booker was attacked. As she tried to escape, more men jumped in stomping and kicking her in the head. The video was uploaded to social media and went viral. She suffered from a concussion, fractured wrist and other injuries as well.[4] The Dallas and LGBT black community was outraged and labeled the attack as "mob violence."[2] On April 14, 2019, Edward Thomas was charged with aggravated assault; others involved in the attack have not yet been identified.[2]

After her attack, supporters held a rally in support of Booker.[6] Booker stood before the crowd and spoke out at a rally about her assault and hate crimes against the transgender community. Booker stated, "This time, it was me; the next time, it could be someone else close to you."[6] Booker's cousin, Quanjasmine Baccus, also spoke out at the rally, saying, "Everywhere we go, she was picked — she was picked on because she is transgender."[7]

Edward Thomas, a 29-year old male, was arrested on April 14, 2019 in connection to Booker's attack. The police stated that Thomas was wearing an ankle monitor that placed him at the Royal Crest Apartments, where the attack on Booker took place.[8] Thomas was charged with aggravated assault and held without bond in Dallas County jail. He was eventually bonded out and went back to jail on Monday May 20th. [8] His bond wasn't set until his court hearing where they set his bond at 75,000 dollars.[9][8]

Murder

At around 6:40 AM the morning of Saturday, May 18, 2019, police officers responded to reports of a shooting near Tenison Park Golf Course, where Booker was found dead on arrival from a gun shot wound.[4]

Kendrell Lyles, a 34-year old male, was arrested and charged with Booker's murder, as well as two other killings. Police said that early in the morning of the murder, Booker was seen getting into a light colored Lincoln which matched the description of Lyles' car. Police also discovered phone records between Booker and Lyles that placed him in the area where Booker was murdered.[10]

References
  1. Home, Golden Gate Funeral. "Obituary for MUHLAYSIA BOOKER | Golden Gate Funeral Home". Obituary for MUHLAYSIA BOOKER | Golden Gate Funeral Home. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
  2. "Man Arrested In Connection With Brutal Beating Of Dallas Transgender Woman". Essence. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
  3. The Armon Wiggins Show (2019-06-07), EXCLUSIVE: MUHLAYSIA BOOKER MOTHER SPEAKS OUT (FULL INTERVIEW), retrieved 2019-07-10
  4. "Texas transgender woman seen in videotaped attack found dead". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
  5. "The Transgender Woman Who Was Beaten In Dallas Last Month Was Fatally Shot". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  6. "Trans Woman Seen in Brutal Beating Video Speaks Out: "I Will Remain Strong" | NewNowNext". www.newnownext.com. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  7. "Arrest made in homicide of transgender woman in Dallas". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  8. "Man charged with beating Muhlaysia Booker ordered back to Dallas County jail, held without bail". Dallas News. 2019-05-23. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  9. Guerrero, Maria; Blake, Chris. "More Arrests Likely in Assault on Transgender Woman: PD". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  10. Miller, Justin (2019-06-13). "Dallas Police Arrest Suspect in Murder of Muhlaysia Booker and Link Him to Another Transgender Woman's Slaying". Retrieved 2019-07-31.
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