MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A 31-year-old woman died from gunshot wounds in an apartment that was set on fire in Milwaukee, officials say.
MPD says officers responded to a home near 29th and Villard around 9:49 a.m. Sunday for reports of a fire.
When officials arrived on the scene, they found the woman who had been shot and killed inside.
According to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office's demographic report, the victim was 31-year-old Cashay B. Henderson.
According to the Diverse and Resilient group on Facebook, Henderson identified as a Black trans woman. The Human Rights Campaign states on its website that trans people are facing record amounts of violence.
There was confusion between the medical examiner's office and the police department on the victim's gender. TMJ4 News relies on groups like Diverse and Resilient to take a stand on shared facts and information regarding specific issues.
Diverse & Resilient Facebook page posted, "Our hearts are broken. We learned this morning that Cashay Henderson was murdered yesterday in her Milwaukee apartment. She was a loved and valued member of our community. Many of us are in mourning today."
"While we are filled with grief, we are also filled with anger."
"Black Trans Women continue to be at the highest risk for homicides within the LGBTQ community. The continued attacks by right-wing elected officials to remove safety and rights for Trans people are causing an increase in vitriol and hatred toward people of Trans experience. We call for an immediate halt to the hateful rhetoric and the dangerous bills that are written as a result of transphobia and lies," according to the post, in part.
TMJ4's Bruce Harrison also spoke with Diverse & Resilient's Justin Roby about the threats trans people face.
"It's a considerable amount of danger they're always worried about. So it's not only the actual violence, it's the vigilance that comes with the threat of violence that they have to deal with on a daily basis," said Roby.
He directs anyone in fear or with questions to connect with Diverse & Resilient, which is located along Holton St. in Milwaukee.
"We need to continue to work to accept all of our loved ones, whatever choices that they make, so that we can make the possibility of a long life for everyone," said Roby.
A GoFundMe has been created in honor of Cashay, with a goal of raising $4,000 for her funeral expenses.
The fundraiser was created by Cashay's cousin who said she was a "bubbly spirit with a down-to-earth, tell-it-like-it-is personality."
To read more about Cashay and to donate to her funeral expenses, click here.
Milwaukee Police said they are investigating the incident as a homicide. Police are looking for unknown suspects and asking anyone with information to contact police at 414-935-7360 or Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS.
