>> Family of Transgender Murder Victim Seeks Hate-Crime Charges
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Le 15 octobre dernier, une jeune femme transgenre de 21 ans a été abattue de plusieurs balles dans la tête dans le Maryland. La police enquête sur un « possible crime haineux ». Pour les proches de la victime, cela ne fait aucun doute, le suspect, Rico Leblond, l’a tuée parce qu’il avait « honte d’elle ». Le jeune homme de 20 ans a été arrêté et mis en examen pour meurtre au premier degré.
Zella Ziona est la 21ème transgenre tuée aux Etats-Unis, depuis le début de l’année, et la 19ème Afro-Américaine, rappelle parismatch.com qui relaye l’information.
D’après NBC, Rico Leblond et Zella Ziona était ami depuis des années, avant qu’elle ne débute sa transition il y a un an et demi. Ce serait ce changement qui aurait ainsi provoqué la colère du suspect. Selon les documents de la justice obtenus par WUSA 9, Rico Leblond aurait commencé à avoir honte de son amie, notamment après que des proches à lui découvrent leurs liens. «Elle a commencé à se montrer exubérante à ses côtés et cela faisait vraiment honte à LeBlond, surtout face à ses amis», a confié un témoin.
Si les proches de Zella la soutenaient dans son changement de vie, sa tante et sa cousine continuaient à l’appeler par son nom de naissance, DeAndre Smith ou par son surnom « Ray Ray ».
«Ce n’était pas le genre de personne que vous pouviez haïr», a confié sa cousine Sade Thomas. « Toutes les vies comptent. Peu importe votre couleur de peau et d’où vous venez, que vous soyez transgenre, gay, hétéro ou peu importe, toutes les vies comptent et personne ne mérite de mourir tragiquement et violemment », a pour sa part expliqué sa tante Kalany Thomas, qui est persuadée qu’il s’agit d’un crime de haine.
Elle déplore que le suspect ait pu commettre un tel crime tandis qu’il avait déjà un lourd passé criminel, avec notamment une tentative de meurtre. Il devrait être présenté devant la justice en novembre prochain.
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avec : parismatch.com
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>> Family and friends of the 21-year-old transgender woman gunned down Thursday in Montgomery County are pressuring prosecutors to bring hate-crime charges against the accused shooter — and prosecutors say they will continue to evaluate the evidence.
Zella Ziona, 21, was shot multiple times in the head and groin in an alley between two shopping centers in Montgomery Village, police said in documents charging childhood friend Rico Leblond with first-degree murder. Loved ones of Ziona, who also was known as DeAndre Smith, believe Leblond hated her for being transgender.
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« It’s a hate crime. He wasn’t accepted, » Ziona’s aunt Kalanay Thomas said. « He was a likable, lovable person, so it would be no other reason other than hate. »
Smith, who had known Ziona since middle school, was due in court Monday on first-degree murder charges and was set to have the terms of his bond reviewed. His attorney requested that the hearing be postponed.
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Prosecutors said outside court on Monday that it was too early to know if they will charge Leblond with a hate crime.
« What’s going to make that determination is, and always is, where do the facts lead you and where do the facts tell you the real motivation is? » Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said. « We are dictated not by emotion. We are dictated by facts, logic and what the law requires us to do. »
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Leblond, who pleaded not guilty, faces life in prison without parole plus 20 years. If he were charged with a hate crime, he would face an additional 20 years.
Police were called to the area where Ziona was killed, near 18312 Contour Road, about 30 minutes before the fatal shooting, News4 learned. Officers responded to a report of a group of people fighting, with one person being hit with a stick.
In charging documents, detectives said they believe Ziona may have been lured to the alley after the initial fight. Police believe Leblond hid behind a dumpster and waited to confront Ziona. Witnesses said he shot her once from a distance and then stood over her and continued to fire. He wore a monster mask over the lower portion of his face, witnesses said.
Prosecutors said they could not recall another deadly attack on a transgender person in the county.
« The nature of this crime here in Montgomery County I think is unprecedented, » McCarthy said.
Leblond was arrested in late 2013 in connection with a stabbing and robbery in the Twinbrook Metro station. Prosecutors said it was a case of mistaken identity and that DNA evidence exonerated him.
He was arrested a few weeks ago on charges he stole a car. He will be tried on that charge.
Family members who went to the Montgomery County District Court on Monday wore T-shirts with photos of Ziona before and after she transitioned to living as a woman. #StopTheHate, the shirts said, displaying the murder victim’s name as DeAndre « Zella » Smith.
Ziona’s cousin Desirae Thomas wept as she explained why her family wore the shirts.
« Just to keep DeAndre with us every step we move, everywhere we go, just to have him, » she said.
Leblond is due in court in November.
