Blade: Second transgender woman killed in Fairmount Heights


Zoe Spears (Photo courtesy of Ruby Corado)

Michael K. Lavers of the Washington Blade reports:

A transgender woman was killed in Fairmount Heights on Thursday.

Major Brian Reilly of the Prince George’s County Police Department told reporters during a press briefing on Friday that 911 received a call “for a check on the welfare” on the 600 block of 59th Avenue near Eastern Avenue just before midnight.

He said officers who responded to the scene found Zoe Spears, 23, “suffering from several gunshots” and pronounced her dead a short time later….

The area in which Spears was killed is located in an area near the Maryland-D.C. border where trans and cisgender women are known to engage in sex work. Spears is also the second trans woman killed in Fairmount Heights this year.

Ashanti Carmon, a 27-year-old trans woman, was murdered at the intersection of Jost and Aspen Streets near Eastern Avenue on March 30. Spears died less than four blocks away from where Carmon was killed.

Chief Peter Newsham of the Metropolitan Police wrote to GLAA and others Friday afternoon:

I was briefed this morning on the sad news of the murder of Ms. Spears last night in Fairmont Heights, MD. I know how personal and painful this news is to you and our transgender and LGBTQ+ community. My sincere condolences to you as you deal with your own grief, while supporting the community.

The Prince George’s County Police Department is investigating this crime. MPD’s LGBT Liaison Unit and Criminal Investigations Division are in contact with PGPD, and we are ready to assist if needed. We are also increasing our presence in the area. As always, the LGBT Liaison Unit is available at (202-506-0714) at any time to any member of the community needing their support or assistance.

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