Man Arrested in Stabbing Death of Transgender Woman London Chanel [UPDATED]

Chanel is the eighth trans person of color to be killed in the U.S. this year.

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UPDATE [5/20/2015, 4:12 am]: New York Daily News has an update in the murder of transgender woman London Chanel, who was stabbed to death early Monday morning in an abandoned rowhome in North Philadelphia:

A 31-year-old man has been arrested in the fatal stabbing of his roommate, a transgender woman who police found bleeding on a sidewalk outside the abandoned Philadelphia building they shared … It’s believed Raheam Felton repeatedly stabbed Londyn Kiki Chanel, 21, in the neck and back during a fight over what authorities described as domestic matters – not because she was a transgender woman. … Felton, who has prior felony convictions of aggravated assault, prostitution and burglary, shared the apartment in the 2200 block of Ingersoll Street with Chanel and another transgender woman.

ORIGINAL: A 21-year-old transgender woman was stabbed to death in a fight early Monday in North Philadelphia.

NBC10 reports that a man stabbed London Chanel in the back and neck inside an abandoned rowhome along the 2200 block of Ingersoll Street in North Philadelphia. More:

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said an argument between Chanel and her 31-year-old alleged attacker sparked the deadly incident inside a middle bedroom on the third floor of the house. The verbal tiff soon grew into a physical fight that ended with Chanel being stabbed twice in the back and once in the neck, according to Small. The attacker and another person, who witnessed the stabbing, carried the woman downstairs and placed her on quilts outside the home. They were doing CPR on the victim when they saw a School District of Philadelphia officer nearby. Small said they flagged the officer down for help who then called Philadelphia Police. Officers rushed the victim to Hahnemann University Hospital where she was pronounced dead just after 1 a.m., police said.

Nellie Fitzpatrick, director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs released a statement confirming Chanel was a member of the transgender community, saying “My heart goes out to her family, friends and the community as we mourn her death. … I know that the police department will work tirelessly to fully investigate the case.”

According to NBC, Chanel is originally from Texas. She came to “Philadelphia several years ago and spent time living at Covenant House, a youth shelter and crisis center in Germantown.” Her mother told NBC10 that her “transition had taken a toll on their relationship, but that they reconnected in March and she was looking forward to her moving home.”

Gay Star News reports that Chanel is the eighth trans woman of color to be killed in the U.S. this year.

There will be a candlelight vigil in her memory held at the scene of the crime on Friday. Stay tuned for more details. Homicide detectives are currently investigating a case. “A folding pocket knife, which investigators believe was used in the stabbing, was found on the alleged attacker,” NBC10 reports. “Both he and the witness have been taken into custody for questioning. No charges have been filed.”