Antash'a English became the 12th transgender person to die this year by homicide across the United States, according to media reports.
The Advocate has kept track of all the homicide victims this year that have been confirmed to be transgender. Two of those 12 deaths have occurred in Jacksonville, making up about 16 percent of overall transgender homicides in the country.
Members of the community are expected to gather Thursday night for a vigil and benefit show to remember English, 38, who was shot and killed last week.
Antonia English, who was known by many as Antash’a, died at UF Health on June 1 after police found her between two abandoned homes in the 1500 block of Ella Street early that morning.
A candlelight vigil and balloon release will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Sidney J. Gefen Riverwalk Park, 505 Alfred Dupont Place.
Following the vigil, a benefit show will be held at InCahoots Night Club at 711 Edison Ave. Those interested in attending can park in the general parking areas of InCahoots, a news release said.
The police report indicates that officers spoke with her when they arrived at the scene and found her with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. She told police an unknown man in a gray hoodie shot her from the road as she was urinating between the two homes. She also said the suspect left the area in a gray four-door vehicle.
When the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office announced her identity, she was identified as a man. We later learned from friends and family that English was a transgender woman and had been living as such for more than 20 years.
First Coast News reached out to JSO for an update on the investigation, and spokeswoman Melissa Bujeda said there was no new information to report.
Previously, Bujeda told FCN a homicide victim is identified by their government-issued identification.
But this isn’t the first time JSO has been criticized for misgendering a homicide victim.
In February, Celine Walker, 36, was found shot and killed at the Extended Stay America in the 10020 block of Skinner Lake Drive.
At the time of Walker’s death, JSO identified the shooting victim by a male name, but advocates in the community informed First Coast News Walker was indeed a transgender woman going by the name of Celine.
Tyler White is a digital reporter/producer for First Coast News. You can follow Tyler on Twitter at @tylerlwhite or email him at twhite@firstcoastnews.com.