Angel Haynes, a 25 year old black trans woman, was found dead last Sunday in Memphis, Tenn. Memphis police were called to a Motel 6 last Sunday at 2:19 a.m. where they found Haynes with a gunshot in her head, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Angel Haynes is now the 32nd transgender/non-binary person to be murdered in 2020. Her death marks an already record breaking year in trans deaths with less than two months to go. While no one knows why she died yet, it is assumed that she died due to her gender.
Sadly, hate crimes toward the LGBTQ+ community are not rare in the area of Memphis where she was staying the night. Angel's best friend Shinese Weddle told WATN-TV, "Just because she was the way she was. And especially in that side of Memphis it was in Whitehaven, they really don't like people like that over there really."
Haynes was a resident of Jackson, Tennessee but was reported to be visiting. Earlier that evening, Haynes called her friend Shinese letting her know that she'd be getting a room and that she would call as soon as she got to the motel for the night. Weddle refers to Angel as not only her friend, but also her sister.
"She was the only friend I had and now she's gone."
Her family knew her as loving, smiling, and funny. There is a GoFundMe page to help her family pay for her funeral, vigil, and more expenses.
If you know anything about this case, please contact the Memphis Police Crimestoppers tip line by calling 901-528-CASH.
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