Transgender Woman Shot to Death in Philadelphia

Shantee Tucker

Shantee Tucker's friends believe her death was a hate crime, but police don't agree.

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.

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Trudy Ring

September 07 2018 8:16 PM EST

May 31 2023 8:15 PM EST

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Transgender woman Shantee Tucker was shot to death in Philadelphia Wednesday, and activists say her gender identity was likely a motive in the attack, although police are doubtful.

Tucker, 30, was observed having an argument with someone in a pickup truck about 1 a.m. Wednesday in the city's Hunting Park neighborhood, the Philadelphia Daily News reports. As she ran away from the truck, a person began firing shots from inside the vehicle, and at least one struck her in the back. Police recovered eight cartridge casings at the scene, and Tucker was pronounced dead at a hospital about five hours later.

"The motive for this killing at this time is unknown," Capt. John Ryan of the Philadelphia police's homicide unit said at a press conference Wednesday, the Daily News reports. As to whether her gender was a factor in the crime, he said, "She wasn't targeted because of her gender affiliation or lifestyle." He said police believe she knew her attacker, but declined to elaborate.

Tucker's friends and transgender activists say her identity may well have been a motivator in the crime, though. Tatyana Woodard, a friend of Tucker's who works with trans clients at the Mazzoni Center, an LGBTQ health care center, told the paper she definitely believes Tucker was attacked for being transgender.