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Kenyan L. Jones has been charged with second-degree murder for the Christmas Eve shooting of Dee Dee Pearson, a transgender woman in Kansas City, Mo.
Kenyan L. Jones has been charged with second-degree murder for the Christmas Eve shooting of a transgender woman in Kansas City, Mo.
Darnell D. Pearson, 31, also known as Dee Dee Pearson, was fatally wounded in the December 24 crime. The Kansas City Star reports Jones said he had paid to have sex with Pearson several hours earlier, and after learning she was biologically male, obtained a gun and shot her.
The Advocate notes coverage of the case has upset LGBT activists. Local media have used male pronouns in referring to Pearson, leading to calls from the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project, the Justice Project, and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation to “respect her chosen, lived identity.” Also, according to local blog Tony’s Kansas City, news outlets have characterized Pearson as a prostitute only on the word of her accused killer. Read more here.
The Kansas City Anti-Violence Project offers support if you or anyone you know needs help in the Kansas City area. All services are free and confidential.
