Landmark transgender hate crime trial begins in South Carolina

The trial for the first federal hate crime based on gender identity has begun in South Carolina. Daqua Lameek Ritter is accused of fatally shooting Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman, in August 2019 before fleeing to New York.

The trial highlights the alarming increase in hate crimes targeting the LGBTQ+ community, particularly against transgender women of color.

The DOJ alleges Ritter lured Doe to a secluded area and shot her three times in the head, enraged after their secret relationship was exposed.

Evidence includes text messages, witness testimonies, and DNA found in Doe’s car.

Prosecutors argue that Ritter’s actions were fueled by hate, emphasizing a 37% increase in gender identity-based hate crimes reported by the FBI in 2022.

Ritter’s defense denies involvement, pointing to a lack of concrete evidence and inconsistencies in witness statements. If convicted, he could face multiple life sentences for hate crimes, murder and misleading investigators.