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The Crisis Grows: Yahira Nesby is the Latest Transgender Murder Victim

Nesby participated in New York’s ball scene and was a member of the House of Chanel.

By Kate Sosin and Jeff Taylor

Yahira Nesby is the latest reported murder victim in a deadly year for trans women of color.

Nesby, 33, was gunned down Thursday, December 19, according to police who responded to a 911 call just after 4:20pm at her Rockaway Parkway apartment in Brooklyn.

The New York Police Department told NewNowNext in a statement that they “discovered a 33-year old female with gunshot wounds to the chest and leg.”

She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said a 39-year-old male was found at the rear of the building with a leg injury indicative of falling from an elevated position. He was taken into custody for questioning, but currently there have been no arrests made and the investigation is ongoing.

News of the victim’s identity came in an Instagram post from T Time Network, a group started by New York-based trans artist and activist Ashley Breathe.

Eliel Cruz, director of communications, at the New York City Anti-Violence Project confirmed that Nesby was transgender to NewNowNext after speaking with close friends. According to Cruz, Nesby participated in New York’s ball scene and was a member of the House of Chanel.

A Facebook page appearing to belong to Nesby says she was from Charlotte, North Carolina, having attended both Vance High School and Central Piedmont Community College.

“We at Genderlines would like to express our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Yahira Nesby,” said Paige Dula, founder of Charlotte-based trans advocacy nonprofit Genderlines. “Again we are witness to the dangerous reality transgender women of color face every day in this country.”

Loved ones have been memorializing Nesby with Facebook posts.

This is story is breaking. Check back for updates.

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