Teen accused in death of transgender woman from documentary

ATLANTA (AP) — A 17-year-old man has been taken into custody in connection with the shooting death earlier this month of Coco Da Doll, an Atlanta woman who raised an alarm about transgender black women and the dangers they face. A documentary had received notice, police said on Thursday.

The teenager is charged with the murder and aggravated assault of a 35-year-old transgender woman, also known as Rashida Williams. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the teen surrendered to authorities on Wednesday at a compound in northwest Atlanta, identifying himself as a person of interest in the case.

Police previously released surveillance images of a man wearing a sports jersey walking up to the entrance of an apartment building. Authorities said detectives wanted to identify the man “to assist with the current murder investigation.”

According to the arrest warrant obtained by the newspaper, the teen said he was the man in the photos, but denied shooting anyone.

A witness said he saw Williams arguing with a man before hearing gunshots. Sakshi said that she ran for help.

In addition to the murder and assault charges, the teen also faces a charge of possession of a firearm during a felony. He is being held at the Fulton County Jail. It was unknown whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Koko gained notice earlier this year when she and others appeared in the documentary “Kokomo City,” in which she described her life as a transgender woman, working as a sex worker for black men. They had to negotiate with, and sometimes face threats of, violence.

“Kokomo City” director Dee Smith wrote in a statement on Instagram that she wanted to make a film “to show the funny, human, natural side of black trans women” and “to address the trauma or murder statistics of transgender lives.” Didn’t want to focus on.”

“Kokomo City” won the Next Innovator Award and Audience Award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and also won an award at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival. It was presented at the Atlanta Film Festival earlier this month. Magnolia Pictures plans to widely release the film later this year.

Coco was the third black trans woman to be killed in Atlanta. The Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ rights group, tracked at least 38 transgender people across the country who were killed in 2022.