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LEXIE CANNES STATE OF TRANS — UPDATE May 21, 2015. Suspect arrested. From LGBTQ Nation:

“Raheam Felton, 31, of Southwest Philadelphia, was charged with murder and possession of an instrument of crime in the killing of London Banks, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer. . . .

Felton was identified by witnesses and taken into custody. Police said he admitted to the killing.

The motive was an argument, police said, but it was unclear what the argument had been about.”

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(Original article, May 18, 2015:) While initially misgendered by local media, the Philadelphia’s mayor’s office later confirmed that a person stabbed to death in the city on May 18, 2015 was a trans woman. The victim, London Chanel, (aka Londyn “Kiki” Chanel-Washington, London Banks) was found in outside a vacant North Philadelphia home.

Police in Philadelphia has not made any comments regarding the details of the murder at this writing, however Nellie Fitzpatrick of the mayor’s office did comment on the preponderance of trans murder victims being trans women of color in Buzzfeed:

“Society is finally beginning to recognize that trans women of color are victimized and murdered at astounding rates. We just have far too many individuals who are dying too young at the hands of violence.”

UPDATE May 19, 2015. Additional info from the NBC affiliate in Philadelphia: Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said the incident began as an argument between the victim and attacker. Chanel ended up being stabbed 3 times, twice in the back and once on the neck. Witnesses say CPR was started and she was rushed to a hospital by the police. She was later declared dead at the hospital. The attacker has not been arrested at this writing but is being questioned by police.

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While trans women of color have historically been disproportionately murder victims in the United States, this year has been particularly ugly in that regard. On the upside, recognition of this reality is increasingly being reported on in the media.

Stats on trans murders worldwide: https://lexiecannes.com/2015/05/18/european-transgender-tracking-organization-reports-1700-trans-murders-in-7-years/

Philadelphia: http://www.buzzfeed.com/dominicholden/transgender-woman-stabbed-to-death-in-philadelphia?bffb&utm_term=4ldqpho#.jsoKoqzge0

Watch LEXIE CANNES right now: http://www.amazon.com/Lexie-Cannes-CourtneyODonnell/dp/B00KEYH3LQ Or get the DVD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963781332

Read Lexie Cannes in The Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/courtney-odonnell/

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