South Carolina Man Found Guilty of First Federal Hate Crime for Killing Black Transgender Woman
In a landmark decision, a federal jury in South Carolina has found Daqua Lameek Ritter guilty of a hate crime for the killing of Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman. This marks the first conviction at a federal trial for a hate crime motivated by gender identity. The jury also found Ritter guilty of a firearms charge and obstruction for the 2019 fatal shooting.
The incident took place when Ritter lured Doe to a remote area in Allendale, South Carolina, where he shot her three times in the head. Prosecutors argued that Ritter was upset after rumors started circulating in the community about a sexual relationship between him and Doe. They asserted that Ritter killed Doe because of her gender identity.
The conviction is being hailed as a historic moment by officials and activists. Prior to Ritter’s case, no federal hate crime case based on gender identity had resulted in a guilty verdict at trial, according to the Justice Department. This decision sends a powerful message to the Black transgender community and the LGBTQI+ community at large that their lives and identities are valued and protected under the law.
The potential consequences for Ritter are severe. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for his heinous actions. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, assuring them that justice would be pursued using every available tool.
However, Ritter’s attorney, Joshua Kendrick, expressed disappointment in the verdict and vowed to continue fighting for his client. Kendrick denied that Ritter committed the murder and claimed there were inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case against him. The defense maintains their stance that there is no physical evidence linking Ritter to the crime and questioned the reliability of witnesses who testified against him.
This historic conviction is the result of the 2009 Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which created a federal law criminalizing violent acts against individuals based on their religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. The law empowers federal authorities to prosecute hate crimes when local authorities choose not to pursue them.
It is crucial to note that this is not the first case involving the murder of a transgender woman as a hate crime. In 2016, a Mississippi man pleaded guilty to killing Mercedes Williamson because she was transgender. However, that case did not proceed to trial.
Doe’s tragic death in August 2019 shed light on the alarming number of violence against transgender individuals, particularly Black transgender women, in South Carolina. She was the fourth Black transgender woman to be killed in a two-year period in the state. The Alliance For Full Acceptance, a South Carolina-based social justice organization, called these killings a “state of emergency.” The conviction of Ritter provides hope for advocates and activists fighting for justice and protection for transgender individuals.
During the trial, prosecutors presented witnesses and text messages that revealed a secret relationship between Ritter and Doe. Tensions escalated when Ritter’s girlfriend discovered the affair and hurled homophobic slurs at him. Additionally, footage from a traffic stop conducted hours before Doe’s body was discovered showed an individual with a tattoo matching Ritter’s in the vehicle with Doe.
Despite the defense’s arguments questioning the reliability of witnesses and the absence of physical evidence linking Ritter to the crime, the jury unanimously found him guilty. The decision showcases the importance of witness testimonies and circumstantial evidence in securing convictions for hate crimes.
Ritter’s sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date, where the court will determine the appropriate punishment for this heinous crime. As the nation grapples with issues of systemic inequality and violence against marginalized communities, this landmark conviction serves as a reminder that progress is being made in holding perpetrators accountable and seeking justice for victims.
