Brooklyn BreYanna Stevenson, 31, a transgender woman, was found murdered in an Oklahoma City motel early Monday morning, Nov. 27, according to NBC-affiliate KFOR.
This is at least the 26th trans person to die violently in the U.S. this year. Most of those killed have been, like Stevenson, transwomen of color. Stevenson’s murder comes just a week after International Transgender Day of Remembrance, held each November in memory of transgender men and women killed around the world over the last 12 months. World-wide, more than 300 transgender people have been killed since late November 2016.
In Stevenson’s case, police responded to the Oxford Inn on Lincoln Boulevard in northeast Oklahoma City at 2:30 a.m. Monday, after a disturbance was reported. Police initially misgendered and dead-named Stevenson. A spokesman with the department later apologized, saying that the department had identified the victim according to what they were told and the ID she had with her when she was found. The spokesman said the department has since discovered that Stevenson was in the process of having her name legally changed before she was killed.
Stevenson’s family released a statement Monday night, identifying Stevenson as transgender.
Police have made no arrests in the case and have asked anyone with information to call the OCPD’s homicide tip line at 405-297-1200.
A GoFundMe page was set up by Stevenson’s family to fund the burial.
Her mother wrote:
“As you all know, my daughter, Brooklyn BreYanna, was senselessly murdered on Monday, November 27. I can tell from the outpouring of love that I have been receiving via Facebook, Instant Messenger, phone calls and texts that Brooklyn was loved by many and will truly be missed by all of you. Many of you have asked if there is anything you can do to help, so we are setting up this account so that you may be able to assist us in funding Brooklyn’s homegoing. Any amount that you can give will help, as we were not prepared in any way to have to be doing this at this time.”
— David Taffet
