Man charged over murder of Black trans woman Davonta Curtis

On April 5, Davonta Curtis, a 31-year-old Black transgender woman, was found dead in her Chicago apartment with multiple blunt force injuries that police said were fatal.

This week, authorities charged 24-year-old DeAndre Bell with first-degree murder and possession of a stolen vehicle.

In court documents, Bell reportedly said that before the attack, he searched the internet for ways to kill someone and Googled “how to kill someone with a hammer” and “what happens if you get hit in the head with a hammer while you’re sleeping.” Chicago Sun-Times Tuesday (April 14th).

Curtis’ sister discovered her body on April 8 and called police. Prosecutors said Curtis’ car keys were also missing.

Later that day, police found Bell in possession of Curtis’ car and keys, as well as a bloody hammer. Prosecutors said Bell admitted to killing Curtis and stealing her keys, cell phone and money, and is suspected of identifying himself in a video that showed a man leaving Curtis’ apartment while he was in custody.

Prosecutors have not released a motive for the killing at this time.

The incident raised new concerns about the violence faced by transgender women, particularly those who may have multiple vulnerabilities, including intimate partner violence.

Curtis’ death comes amid growing violence against Black trans women in the United States, who remain disproportionately affected by deadly attacks. These attacks are often underreported, with initial reporting on Ms Curtis’ death being cited as an example of misgendering her, a common problem that can erase a victim’s identity even in death.

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