CRIME
Two Trans Women Killed
in First Week of 2022
Amariey Lej, a 20-year-old transgender woman, was found shot to death in the Wilkinsburg section of
Pittsburgh.
BY HEATHER CASSELL
The murders of two Black
transgender women in
the early days of the new
year struck an ominous
tone in the wake of two of the deadliest
years on record for transgender
Americans.
Amariey Lej, 20, and Duval Princess,
24, were the fi rst two transgender
individuals to suffer violent
deaths in 2022 — and both women
were shot to death.
Lej was found dead on New
Year’s Day at the 1300 block of
Wood Street in Wilkinsburg, a
borough of Pittsburgh, according
to CBS affi liate KDKA. Lej, whose
name was also spelled as Amarey
in some media reports, also went
by Myara, according to a January
2 news release distributed by Sis-
Ters PGH, a Black and trans-led
non-profi t serving queer and trans
BIPOC individuals in southwestern
Pennsylvania.
Princess was found dead by a security
guard in a car at Highland
Square shopping center in Jacksonville
on January 3. Princess’ family
believes she went to the shopping
center to meet someone she knew,
and WJAX viewed security footage
from a nearby business showing
Princess meeting someone. Princess
and that individual were in the
car for 10 minutes before there was
FACEBOOK
a fl ash, at which point the suspect
fl ed the scene.
Local media coverage deadnamed,
misgendered, and used outdated
photos of Princess, who was
in the early stages of transitioning,
according to the Human Rights
Campaign (HRC) and the National
Black Justice Coalition (NBJC).
Local police are investigating her
death as a homicide, according to
First Coast News, though Jacksonville
Police Offi cer Tami Rush declined
to comment on the investigation,
citing Marsy’s Law.
“It is heartbreaking that in the
fi rst few days of 2022, we lost two
trans sisters,” Victoria Kirby York,
the deputy executive director of
NBJC, said in a written statement.
Lej and Princess were both described
as bright people who inspired
everyone around them.
They were deeply involved in their
communities.
“Amariey Lej was a vibrant soul
with a presence that fi lled every
space she entered,” her family and
friends wrote on a GoFundMe page,
which has raised $15,252 thus far
to help with funeral expenses.
Lej, whose funeral was on Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day, January 17,
was a dancer and a member of the
Lady Diamonds dance squad. She
also worked as a youth artist apprentice
at Legacy Arts Project, according
to the fundraising campaign.
GayCityNews.com | JANUARY 27 - FEBRUARY 9, 2022 5
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