A 38 year-old Black trans woman, Antonia English, died from a gunshot wound Friday, June 1 in Jacksonville, Florida. Known to her friends and family as Antash’a (Antash’a Devine Sherrington English), she was found between two abandoned houses and later died from her injuries at the hospital.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s office initially misgendered and deadnamed Antash’a, resulting in a delay notifying the community of her death.
Her friends and family, once again, had to add the task of correcting that information with the media and law enforcement while grieving their loved one. From the First Coast News ABC affiliate:
Antash’a was an “unapologetic” transgender woman, said Taliyah Smith, a friend of the victim.
Smith confirmed that Antash’a was a regular performer at a Riverside gay nightclub, InCahoots.
“She was an unapologetic, bold and loyal person,” Smith told First Coast News. “We met years ago while at a gay pageant. We both were entertainers.”
Smith said Antash’a also won many pageants for her performances and she will likely be honored in upcoming pageants.
English’s sister, Jayda, told First Coast News that Antash’a has been living as a woman for more than 20 years and that it’s important that she not be misgendered.
Antash’a was able to tell first responders that a man in a gray hoodie shot [her] in the abdomen from the road and left in a gray four-door vehicle before succumbing to her injuries.
Police have said this is an active homicide investigation and that anyone with tips regarding this fatal shooting is asked to contact the sheriff’s office or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.
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 in Jacksonville.
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Following the vigil, InCahoots Night Club at will host a benefit. Proceeds will help with burial expenses.
Rest in power, Antash’a. Your life and death deserved more respect and dignity.
The list that I’ve created of trans people killed in 2018 so far. Note that people and outlets reporting on these crimes have different numbers based on different factors – some don’t include officer related shootings, others don’t include non-trans GNC individuals, while others include any violent death including death by suicide. The most important thing that unites us all is that we want the violence to stop. We need to keep asking ‘Where is the outrage?’ During 2017, we lost at least 25 trans neighbors. May 2018 be more merciful. Sadly we are on track to meet or exceed the previous year.
- Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien – Massachusetts (January 6) 42 years old
- Viccky Gutierrez – Los Angeles (January 9), 33 years old
- Tonya ‘Kita’ Harvey – Buffalo (February 6), 35 years old
- Celine Walker – Jacksonville, Florida (February 4), 36 years old
- Phylicia Mitchell – Cleveland (February 23), 46 years old
- Zakaria Fry – Stanley, New Mexico (February 19), 28 years old
- Amia Tyrae Berryman – Baton Rouge (March 26), 28 years old
- Sasha Wall – Chesterfield, South Carolina (April 1), 29 years old
- Karla Patricia Pavon-Flores – Dallas (May 9), 26 years old
- Nino Fortson – Atlanta (May 13), 36 yeas old
- Gigi Pierce – Portland (May 21), 28 years old
- Antash’a English – Jacksonville (June 1), 38 years old
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