With the shooting death of 47-year-old Stephanie Montez, 2017 is now the deadliest year on record for transgender people living in America.
Montez was found dead Oct. 21 near Corpus Christi, Texas after being shot three times according to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. She is the 24th known death of a transgender individual, more than 2015 or 2016 according to Pink News.
“She just had a great outlook on life. She was very supportive of everyone,” Montez’s friend Brittany Ramirez said to the Caller-Times. “… I’m hoping everyone has equal rights. It’s a human life regardless. I don’t know why anybody would do this.”
According to Newsweek, the previous record was 23 in 2016. This year, the deaths of seven transgender women in the first six weeks of 2017 set the pace for this year.
Currently, Corpus Christi police are continuing their search for Montez’s killer. According to the Times-Caller, the investigation is in its early stages.
The names of the 24 known transgender people killed this year include the following, courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign:
Mesha Caldwell, 41
Sean Hake, 23
Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, 28
JoJo Striker, 23
Tiara Richmond/ Keke Collier, 24
Chyna Doll Dupree, 31
Ciara McElveen, 26
Jaquarrius Holland, 18
Alphonza Watson, 38
Chay Reed, 28
Kenneth Bostick, 59
Sherrell Faulkner, 46
Kenne McFadden, 27
Kendra Marie Adams, 28
Ava Le’Ray Barrin, 17
Ebony Morgan, 28
TeeTee Dangerfield, 32
Gwynevere River Song, 26
Kiwi Herring, 30
Kashmire Nazier Redd, 28
Derricka Banner, 26
Scout Schultz, 21
Ally Steinfeld, 17
Stephanie Montez, 47
