Transgender Woman Recently Assaulted on Camera Found Shot Dead in Dallas

By Associated Press

20 May 19

Body of Muhlaysia Booker was found in a street on Saturday and no suspect has been identified, police said

23-year-old transgender woman who was seen on a widely circulated video being beaten in front of a crowd of people has been found shot dead in Dallas.

Muhlaysia Booker was found face-down in a street early on Saturday and no suspect has been identified, Maj Vincent Weddington of Dallas police said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said there was no apparent link to the 12 April beating Booker suffered after she was involved in a minor traffic accident.

A police affidavit released at the time said Booker accidentally backed into a vehicle before the driver of that vehicle pointed a gun at her and refused to let her leave unless she paid for the damage.

As a crowd gathered, someone offered $200 to a man to beat the woman, who suffered a concussion, fractured wrist and other injuries, police said at the time.

Other men also struck Booker, one stomping on her head. Edward Thomas, 29, was arrested and jailed on a charge of aggravated assault.

A cellphone recording showed Booker being beaten as the crowd hollered and watched. Video of the incident was shared on social media.

Booker attended a rally the following week where she said she was grateful to have survived the attack.

“This time I can stand before you, where in other scenarios, we’re at a memorial,” the Dallas Morning News reported her as saying.

Weddington said on Sunday that the investigation into the April attack continues.

“We’re still attempting to identify other people that were seen assaulting Muhlaysia in the video,” he said.