Muhlaysia Booker

Muhlaysia Booker
Born(1997-01-14)January 14, 1997
Dallas, Texas
DiedMay 18, 2019(2019-05-18) (aged 22)
Dallas, Texas
Cause of death
Gunshot wound

Muhlaysia Booker (January 14, 1997 – May 18, 2019)[1][2] was an African-American transgender woman whose filmed assault in Dallas, Texas went viral on social media. She was murdered a month later.[3][4]

Attack

On April 12, 2019, Booker and a cousin went to see a fight in Royal Crest Apartments.[5][3] Upon leaving, Booker backed into a car and tried to flee the scene.[6] The driver got out of his car and held Booker against her will until damages were paid. A crowd gathered around the altercation and a man named Edward Thomas was offered $200 to assault Booker. Bystanders watched, videotaped, and yelled. The video was uploaded to social media and went viral. Booker had a concussion and fractured wrist.[5] The Dallas mayor Mike Rawlings labeled it as "mob violence."[2]

On April 14, 2019, Edward Thomas was charged with aggravated assault and held without bond in Dallas County jail.[2] The police stated that his ankle monitor placed him at the location.[7] He was eventually bonded at $75,000 at his court hearing and went back to jail on May 20.[7][8] In October 2019, Thomas was convicted of a lesser charge of misdemeanor assault and sentenced to serve 300 days in jail.[9]

After Booker's attack, supporters held a small rally.[10] Booker spoke out about assault against the transgender community.[10] Her cousin, Quanjasmine Baccus, said, "She was picked on because she is transgender."[11]

Murder

At around 6:40 AM on May 18, 2019, police officers responded to reports of a shooting near Tenison Park Golf Course, where Booker was found dead from a gunshot wound.[5] Kendrell Lyles, a 34-year old man, was arrested and charged with Booker's murder, as well as two other killings. Police said that earlier, Booker was seen getting into a light-colored Lincoln, matching the description of Lyles' car. Police discovered phone records between Booker and Lyles, placing him in the area.[12]

In November 2023, Lyles pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 48 years in prison. He is also charged in the murders of Leticia Grant and Kenneth Cichocki.[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Obituary for MUHLAYSIA BOOKER". Golden Gate Funeral Home. Archived from the original on December 26, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Man Arrested In Connection With Brutal Beating Of Dallas Transgender Woman". Essence. Archived from the original on December 26, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  3. 1 2 EXCLUSIVE: MUHLAYSIA BOOKER MOTHER SPEAKS OUT (FULL INTERVIEW). The Armon Wiggins Show. June 7, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  4. ↑ Wallace, Terry. "Man charged in the deaths of 3 women in Dallas, including transgender woman Muhlaysia Booker". Insider. Archived from the original on April 9, 2026. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Texas transgender woman seen in videotaped attack found dead". CBS News. May 20, 2019. Archived from the original on December 16, 2025. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  6. ↑ "The Transgender Woman Who Was Beaten In Dallas Last Month Was Fatally Shot". BuzzFeed News. May 21, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Man charged with beating Muhlaysia Booker ordered back to Dallas County jail, held without bail". Dallas News. May 23, 2019. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  8. ↑ Guerrero, Maria; Blake, Chris (April 15, 2019). "More Arrests Likely in Assault on Transgender Woman: PD". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Jury Convicts Edward Thomas Of Assault On Transgender Woman Muhlaysia Booker - CBS Texas". CBS News. October 21, 2019. Archived from the original on March 8, 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Trans Woman Seen in Brutal Beating Video Speaks Out: "I Will Remain Strong" | NewNowNext". www.newnownext.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Arrest made in homicide of transgender woman in Dallas". CBS News. June 12, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  12. ↑ Miller, Justin (June 13, 2019). "Dallas Police Arrest Suspect in Murder of Muhlaysia Booker and Link Him to Another Transgender Woman's Slaying". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  13. ↑ Arshad, Minnah (November 7, 2023). "Man sentenced to 48 years in prison for Dallas murder of Muhlaysia Booker". USA Today. Archived from the original on June 8, 2024. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
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