Historic Hate Crime Verdict: Man Convicted in Killing of Black Trans Woman

A South Carolina man has been convicted of a federal hate crime in the killing of Black transgender woman Dime Doe, marking the first trial verdict of its kind under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Daqua Lameek Ritter was found guilty of murder motivated by gender identity, federal firearms charges, and obstruction. The landmark verdict sends a message that bias-motivated violence will not be tolerated, and the Justice Department vows to seek justice for victims and their families. The case comes amid ongoing violence and legislation targeting the transgender community, with at least 32 transgender and gender-expansive people killed last year, half of whom were Black transgender women.