22 year old Dennequia 'Dee Dee' Dodds was shot in the early morning hours on July 4 in a northeast DC alley just a few blocks from her home in the 200 block of Division Ave NE. After police were flagged down to reach her at 3 AM EDT, she was taken to an area hospital with a gunshot wound to her neck, and was on life support for nine days before she was taken off of it and died July 13
"Her death reminds us all how often the transgender community is targeted for violence in our society," said longtime DC based trans advocate Earline Budd, who is acting as a spokesperson for the family.
Casa Ruby founding executive director Rudy Corado said in a statement, "Deneequia was part of the Casa Ruby family, and she is gone but not forgotten. Her death will not be in vain."
"Casa Ruby denounces the genocide of young transgender women of color. People in leadership need to address the employment barriers that keeps trans women of color from accessing the resources they need to grow healthy and thrive," Corado added.
Deneequia Dodds has become the 15th trans person to die this year, and fits the ongoing pattern of anti-trans violence of being a trans woman of color and under age 30.
DC Metropolitan Police has not released any information about a suspect, nor are they investigating Dodds' murder as a hate crime. But with her death, when they do catch the perpetrator of this crime, that waste of DNA will be facing homicide charges.
MPD is also looking for information that will help solve this crime and bring Deneequia's killer to justice You can call 202-727-9099 if you have information about this case. You can also text 50411 to anonymously submit you information about this case.
There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case, and I hope our sister receives justice soon. The Washington DC trans community and our allies will be making sure that happens.
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