Transgender Woman Who Was Attacked in Video Found Fatally Shot in Far East Dallas

A transgender woman who was attacked in April by a group of people in an incident that was recorded on video was found fatally shot Saturday morning in Far East Dallas.Muhlaysia Booker was found dead of a gunshot wound about 6:40 a.m. in the 7200 block of Valley Glen Drive. Police said Sunday that they had no leads in the case.Assistant Chief Avery Moore said he did not have enough information to say whether her slaying was motivated by hate or retaliation."We recognize that hate crimes, if you will, are a serious topic. We at the Dallas Police Department take them serious."In April, a video that circulated online showed Booker being punched and kicked multiple times in the parking lot of the Royal Crest Apartments in the 3500 block of Wilhurt Avenue. Edward Dominic Thomas, 29, was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury two days after the attack. Booker told police that she accidentally backed into another vehicle while driving in the parking lot and that another driver pointed a gun at her and refused to let her leave unless she paid for the damage.As a crowd gathered around her, someone offered Thomas $200 to beat Booker, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Video of the incident showed Thomas put on gloves, then walked over to Booker and punch her multiple times.Police Lt. Vincent Weddington said then that the case was being investigated to determine if it meets the criteria of a hate crime.The other driver was named as a suspect in the affidavit but had not been arrested in connection with the attack. Police say another suspect who has been identified but not arrested repeatedly stomped on Booker's face.Investigators are still trying to identify other people involved in the assault, they said.Several women carried Booker to a car and brought her to a hospital, where she told police that homophobic slurs were used during the assault. She had a concussion and a fractured wrist, as well as bruising and swelling to her face.Police declined to say whether Booker had reported other threatening behavior before they found her in the road Saturday.  Continue reading...