November 2nd 2023.
Lisa Love, a 35-year-old Black transgender woman from Chicago, was reportedly shot and killed on Oct. 17 as she was walking home from a friend's house. WGN News reported that Love was fatally shot in the chest and back. Police confirmed the incident occurred at 4:30 a.m. near 79th St. and Cottage Grove Ave.
Love's family members believe she was targeted and said that people in the neighborhood were aware of her gender identity. Donna, the victim's cousin, spoke about the moments leading up to the tragedy: “A car just drove up, made a U-turn and [saw] my cousin. Approximately 30 seconds later, the car stopped, and my cousin was shot.” Donna also said Love was an "all-around good person who did not deserve this," and that she was "a loving, caring, free-spirited person. Always smiling and laughing."
The Transgender Justice Initiative noted that Love's shooting marks the fourth transgender or gender non-conforming hate crime involving a Black victim in October and the second for Chicago within the month. Love has been added to a list of at least 24 victims in 2023.
The Transgender Law Center mourned Love's death with its social media community. “May she rest in peace and power,” the center wrote about the Black trans woman.
The head of Chicago’s Federal Bureau of Investigations office recently released a warning to Chicagoans addressing an alarming surge in hate crimes in the city. On Oct. 26, the Human Rights Campaign said police were investigating the shooting.
It's heartbreaking to hear of such a tragic event, especially for someone who brought joy to many. Love was a graduate of Kenwood Academy High School and truly did not deserve such an unjust death. As we mourn the loss of yet another innocent life, we must continue to fight for justice and equality in our world.
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