Trans woman is shot to death in front of apartment

A trans woman was murdered in the early morning hours of May 4, most likely at 2 a.m. that morning, police say.

Trans woman is shot to death in front of apartment

Police said investigators have leads in the homicide investigation of a transgender woman was shot to death.

Police said Sophia Arrieta Vasquez, 36, was shot to death in her apartment on May 4.

Officers responded to a call from a person shot that morning to find Arrieta Vasquez suffering from multiple gunshot wounds outside her apartment door. Police said she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Arrieta Vasquez lived at the Atlantic Brookhaven Apartments, where she was located.

According to police she was likely killed several hours earlier, around 2 a.m. that morning.

Police say investigators on Wednesday identified a person of interest and a probable motive, though it has not been released.

“The cause has not yet been confirmed, by deTrans woman is shot to death in front of apartmenttectives,” said Deputy Brandon Gurley. “They have what they believe to be the motive. Until we can confirm it, it wouldn’t be something that would be indicated to release.”

The victim’s family said Arrieta Vasquez was transgender and liked being called Sophie better.

Case managers have been working on the case since last week.

Arrietta Vasquez’s death is at least the 23rd violent death of a transgender or gender nonconforming person in 2021, according to LGBTQ advocacy organization Human Rights Campaign.