Man sentenced to 30 years for murder of Minneapolis trans woman

A Minneapolis man has been convicted of murdering a transgender woman and sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.

Damarean Kayron Bible, 25, was found guilty of second-degree murder for shooting and killing Savannah Ryan Williams in November and sentenced to 367 months in prison. Under Minnesota sentencing guidelines, he will serve two-thirds of his sentence in prison and the rest on probation, KSTP News reported.

Her family said Williams, 38, always made them “laugh and smile” and her murder “has forever stained our lives with sadness”.

The victim’s mother described Williams as her “best friend.” He spoke at the sentencing hearing She said her daughter “lives on” and her “memories make us laugh and smile.”

Bible apologized to Williams’ family and his girlfriend before Judge Juan Hoyos handed down the sentence.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty told reporters, “This senseless act of violence against an Indigenous Cuban transgender woman has left a family without a daughter, a partner without a presence, and a community without the bright light that brought a unique glow to every room Savannah was in. Savannah deserved to be safe.” NBC News Reported.

Bible reportedly told police he shot Williams after the sex act because he had “suspicious feelings” about her. Despite this, Moriarty said prosecutors had not proven it was a hate crime “beyond a reasonable doubt,” but that it could have been a factor.

“The failure to prosecute this incident as a bias crime does not change the impact this crime has on the safety of the transgender community,” she added. “Across the country and in our community, we are seeing an increase in hateful acts of violence against transgender people. Every time a transgender person is attacked, our entire community feels less safe.”

In court, prosecutor James Hanneman suggested Williams was killed “because of the kind of person she was,” according to KTSP.

Minnesota State Representative Lee Finke, the first transgender person elected to the Minnesota Legislature, condemned the escalation of violence against transgender people and said the state’s Queer Legislative Caucus would “do everything in our power to solve this crisis” in the Legislature.

Finke added, “Savannah Ryan Williams was a beloved member of the transgender and Two-Spirit community who should still be alive. The data is clear: transgender people, particularly transgender people of color, experience violence at much higher rates than their cisgender neighbors.”

Last year, approximately 321 transgender and gender non-conforming people were reportedly murdered around the world, the majority of whom were transgender women of color.

Anyone who witnesses or experiences hate crime in the UK can call police on 101, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or True Vision Please visit our website and always call 999 in case of an emergency.

In the United States, people who experience or witness a hate crime should call 911 or The FBI’s Victim Services Division.