Kendrell Lavar Lyles was charged with three counts of murder including the death of transgender woman Muhlaysia Booker in Dallas.
What We Know…
- Lyles was arrested Wednesday, June 5, as a suspect in the deaths of two women in Dallas, Texas. After further investigation, Lyles was connected to Booker’s death on May 18.
- Lyles is also being investigated for the death of another transgender woman, Brittany White, and a third nonfatal stabbing of another transgender woman.
- Texas Police have identified Lyles as a potential serial killer as he has already been charged with three counts of homicide and connected to more.
- Booker’s story first went viral when she shared a video of men attacking her using homophobic slurs on April 12. One suspect was arrested for his involvement in the hate crime. Booker was found dead May 19.
- Booker’s death attracted national attention last month as a symbol of increasing violence against transgender women. More than two dozen transgender people were killed in the US last year, though this statistic is thought to be grossly under-reported.
- Last year was the second year in a row with over two dozen reported deaths of transgender Americans; in 2017 29 transgender people were reported killed to the Human Rights Campaign. All but one of these deaths in 2018 were trans women, and all but one were people of color.
Advocates feel these recent crimes reflect a trend and reveal problems in the reporting of transgender peoples’ deaths.
