A significant development unfolded in the justice system of the United States as a South Carolina man, Daqua Lameek Ritter, was found guilty of a federal hate crime for the 2019 killing of Black transgender woman Dime Doe. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke from the US Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, announced this landmark verdict on Saturday, stating that it was the first trial conviction under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act for a hate crime motivated by gender identity.
This groundbreaking decision comes as the Black transgender community continues to grapple with the rise in violence, rhetoric, and legislation targeting their community across the United States. According to reports from the Human Rights Campaign, at least 32 transgender and gender-expansive people were killed in 2020, with half being Black transgender women, and over 80% of victims being individuals of color. Furthermore, recent data from the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund reveals that a significant portion of this fatal violence against transgender and gender-expansive people occurs in the South.
The trial, which took place over four days, revealed that Ritter’s motivation for the crime was his anger over rumors regarding his past sexual relationship with Doe. Prosecutors claimed he lured her to a secluded area in Allendale, approximately 70 miles southwest of Columbia, and fatally shot her three times. The Justice Department asserted that the evidence proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ritter’s actions were motivated by Doe’s gender identity.
Following the killing, Ritter attempted to obstruct justice by burning his clothes and disposing of the weapon. He also reportedly provided false information to authorities, further emphasizing the heinous nature of his crime. The jury’s verdict delivered a clear message that bias-motivated violence against transgender individuals will not be tolerated, and those responsible for such crimes will face the full consequences of the law.
Ritter now faces a potential sentence of up to life in prison following his conviction on all charges, including one hate crime count, one federal firearms count, and one obstruction count. His sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.
This historic verdict marks an essential step forward in the fight for justice and equality for transgender individuals, who have long faced disproportionate rates of violence and discrimination. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, signed into law in 2009, has proved to be a valuable tool for prosecutors seeking to charge defendants with federal hate crime offenses. Since its passing, the Department of Justice has used the act to secure over 60 convictions within the first decade alone.
Previous cases, such as that of Joshua Brandon Vallum in Mississippi in 2017, have also set precedents for federal hate crime prosecutions involving transgender individuals. Vallum was sentenced to 49 years in prison following his guilty plea for the killing of Mercedes Williamson, a transgender woman, with evidence revealing he would not have committed the crime if she had not been transgender. This was the first such case to be prosecuted under the act where the victim’s gender identity was a factor.
Ritter’s case represents another milestone, being the first trial conviction for violence against a transgender person under the act. It is crucial that society continues to prioritize efforts in addressing and preventing acts of violence against transgender individuals, ensuring they can live without fear.
