The body of a transgender woman was found floating in White Rock Lake in Dallas on June 1 marking the fourth case of violence against trans women in the city in the last eight months. All four victims are African American.
The latest casualty is 26-year-old Chynal Lindsey, a resident of Arlington. At a press conference, Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall said there was “homicidal violence” in Lindsey’s death. “We are concerned. We are actively investigating the case and have reached out to federal authorities for assistance,” Hall said.
Tamaya Lindsey, the victim’s cousin, told KTVT-TV Chynal, who was put up for adoption as a child, had moved to North Texas about five years ago to be close to her birth family.
In response to the request for help from Dallas police, the FBI said in a statement, “The FBI is committed to investigating all federal crimes and providing assistance to our local partners when asked. We will continue to work with the Dallas Police Department as well as all our community partners to address any concerns. If in the course of the local investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal civil rights violation, the FBI is prepared to assist.”
Dallas police are still searching for clues in two other murders and one attempted murder of trans women of color in the city.
On May, 18, Muhlaysia Booker was found shot to death in South Dallas. A few weeks before her murder, Booker was beaten publicly, her ordeal was filmed and went viral on social media. Police later charged Edward Thomas with aggravated assault in the attack.
On October 21, 2018 another trans woman, Brittany White was found shot to death in a parked car. Several months later, an unidentified trans woman was found in South Dallas with multiple stab wounds and left for dead. She went on to survive her injuries.
According to statistics provided by the Human Rights Campaign, there were 26 transgender people killed in the U.S. in 2018, the majority being women of color. According to HRC’s accounting, there have been at least seven transgender people who have been fatally shot or killed by violent means this year.
