MILWAUKEE — A person of interest identified as a 33-year-old Neenah man was arrested in Menasha, Wisconsin in connection to the homicide of Cashay Henderson in Milwaukee, police say.
As TMJ4 News has reported, Henderson, a 31-year-old Black trans woman, died from gunshot wounds in an apartment that was set on fire in Milwaukee. Officers responded to a home near 29th and Villard around 9:49 a.m. Sunday for reports of a fire.
What's new today is that police in Menasha, Wisconsin, said in a statement that around 11:15 p.m. Wednesday officers tried to pull over a driver they believed to be a homicide suspect out of Milwaukee.
The driver did not pull over and instead drove off. Police say they decided to use spike strips and successfully forced the driver to drive at slower speeds.
State Patrol officers then performed a PIT Maneuver, in which an officer taps their squad car against a suspect's vehicle, causing the suspect's vehicle to turn sideways and hopefully stop. The PIT Manuever worked and the suspect's vehicle stopped along Appleton Road in Menasha.
Police say the suspect ran out of the vehicle and officers used a K9 and deployed a Taser. "The suspect was safely taken into custody," according to a news release.
According to police, a handgun and "other evidence" was found in the suspect's vehicle. Menasha police handed the suspect over to Milwaukee police.
Milwaukee police also told us Wednesday that a "person of interest" identified as a 33-year-old Neenah man was arrested in Menasha "in connection to the homicide of Cashay B. Henderson."
According to the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression on Wednesday, Henderson is the third Black trans woman killed in Milwaukee in the last year.
The group alleged in a statement that Milwaukee police and the medical examiner's office originally misgendered Henderson. The group also says Milwaukee authorities misgendered Brazil Johnson, a Black trans women killed last year.
Milwaukee Police initially described the victim as a man, while the medical examiner's office described the victim as a woman. TMJ4 News did not identify the victim by their gender until family of Henderson confirmed.
"This trend of misgendering trans people who are victims of violent crimes is disturbing. In recent years, there has been a rise in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and violence throughout the U.S. Most of these crimes against LGBTQ people, especially trans people, usually remain unsolved. The lack of care in properly gendering people is indicative of a general lack of care for protecting LGBTQ people," according to the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.
'I want her to be remembered for her bubbly-giving spirit': Family remembers Cashay Henderson
As TMJ4's Bruce Harrison reported on Tuesday, family of Cashay Henderson and members of the transgender community are remembering her spirit of confidence and reminding other trans women of the dangers of just being yourself.
Her cousin, Veronica Beck, said Henderson had posted on her Facebook about transgender friends dying and even said once she was glad "RIP" was not yet in front of her own name.
"I don’t want it to be to the point she’s [Henderson] just another case, that she’s just another transgender female who was murdered and it’s unsolved. I don’t want that to happen to my cousin," said Beck.
On Sunday, Henderson was found shot to death in her apartment near 29th and Villard. Police said a fire had been set in the building, leading to the discovery of her body. Police are still searching for a suspect or suspects.
Neither family nor community advocates, like Monei Evans, know exactly why it happened, but Evans is familiar with the violence facing transgender people.
"Being shot, being stabbed. I went through it all. I've been through it all," said Evans, herself a Black trans woman and peer navigator at Milwaukee NGO Diverse and Resilient. "One day of my life I was just like, I have to know when to stay, when to go, what to say, what to do, cause I gotta make it home."
At Diverse and Resilient, Evans now shares her experiences with young trans women.
"In the summertime, if you see a group of people right there and you already know, turn around and go the other way. It's not about being scared. It's about making it home without a scratch on you," said Evans.
Diverse and Resilient offers many resources to transgender people, from peer conversations about harm reduction and safety to financial help on bills and advice on legal issues. Her message to all trans people — be yourself, but know that until society changes, you can't let your guard down.
"I just want to tell the trans girls to be careful. Be very aware. I treat like like boxing. I protect myself at all times. No matter where I'm at. It's just a must," said Evans.
According to the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, there were 38 trans deaths nationally last year and at least six murders have been reported so far this year.
The center said that discrimination against trans people impacts their ability to find work, housing, and healthcare, leaving many more vulnerable to homelessness, violence, and death.
Henderson's family has created a memorial fundraiser to help cover the costs to return her body to Chicago, her hometown, and funeral costs.
"I want her to be remembered for her bubbly giving spirit. For her confidence, the confidence that she reflected on other people. The confidence she gave other people to be their true genuine selves," said Beck.
