Her name was Jazz

Yesterday I shared the terrible news out of Birmingham, AL, where one transgender woman was shot and killed on Friday and another was shot in the face during a home invasion on Monday.

There are updates to both stories.

The murdered woman was dead-named and misgendered by Birmingham police and the news media.

The victim's sister, Toyan Milan, also a transgender woman, has come forward to identify her as Jazz Alford.

She was such a loving person and we didn't know anybody that would want to hurt her. of her sister. It's been a hard pill to swallow.

Her death was a huge hit for the LGBT community. There was another transgender shot multiple times somewhere else recently. People think transgenders are monsters, when really we just want to be accepted.

--Milan

A young man has been detained and is being questioned in connection with the other case.

Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards today confirmed a person of interest in Monday's shooting is undergoing questioning. He has not yet been charged with any crime, but is being held in the Birmingham City Jail, according to jail records.

Police also say Monday's shooting could be linked to the slaying of a transgender woman killed at a Birmingham motel. Police in that case initially identified the victim as a male, but have since released that she was a transgender woman.

The home invasion victim's boyfriend, Darius Foster, saw the suspect depart the scene and presumably can identify the shooter.

Foster said he believes the suspect is the same person who robbed another friend of theirs at a Homewood motel. He said a gun was stolen in that incident, and he believed that gun was used to shoot his girlfriend today. Homewood police identified that victim as male, but Foster said the Homewood victim was a female.

In that case, Homewood police Sgt. John Carr said the victim left the motel room at America's Best Inn two weeks ago from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Upon return, the victim discovered the gun was missing. It is being treated as a theft case.

It has yet to be determined if the stolen firearm is connected to any ongoing investigation by Homewood Police or any other agencies.

--Homewood PD

Birmingham homicide Sgt. John Tanks today said there is a possibility the two Birmingham shootings are somehow linked, but at this point detectives don't know.

Right now, we're investigating them separately.

--Tanks

There is no update on the condition of the home-invasion victim. Her identity is being protected.

Destiny Carter with Central Alabama Pride said her organization will hold an anti-violence rally on Friday, Oct. 7 at 5 p.m. in Kelly Ingram Park.

Denzell Thomas was today charged with first-degree robbery and attempted murder in the home-invasion. He is also a "person of interest" in the murder.

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I wish your essays drew more comments. But if the other readers are like me, we are kinda horrified into silence. Please keep it up by keeping us informed. If there is any group treated more horribly than Native Americans, it is transgender people. Thank you so much for your continued work.

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