Shy’Parius Dupree, a Black Trans man, was shot on May 18, 2025, and died in the hospital in Memphis, Tennessee on May 19, 2025. He was 32.
The Crime
On May 18 Memphis Police Department Officers responded to the shooting at 12:10 a.m. at Range Line Road near James Road in a neighborhood known as Frayser. The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition, where [he] later died from [their] injuries. Original reporting, while limited, too often misgenders Shy’Parius.
It was a brutal weekend with three fatal incidents claiming the lives of three people and seriously injuring a fourth.
There is very little information about this shooting. I hope greater visibility in the LGBTQ community will help.
Honoring Shy’Parius
A Memphis nativee, Shy’Parius worked at Fedex, as a youth counselor with Youth Villages, and as a shift manager at Save A Lot. He attended Sheffield High School. He has also attended Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.
Shy’Parius was 32 years old, born on September 9. He had multiple side hustles as a bartender, cook, and operating a small store with his wife.
He and his wife just celebrated their daughter’s 12th birthday. They also parented a son. In February, Shy’Parius celebrated his third wedding anniversary with his wife, Lola.
Shy’Parius loved his dog, Bella. As I looked at his social media content, I noticed he consistently shared content about kids in need – missing children, requests to help pay school lunch debt, etc. It is easy to say “that’s sad” when you come across that content, but for him to take the effort to keep sharing it says a lot about his concern for child welfare.
Family and friends held a a candle light vigil Saturday May 24, 2025 at 6pm at MLK Riverside Park. His funeral will be Tuesday May 27th at R.S. Lewis Funeral Home. The obituary can be found here.
Context
Shy’Parius is the eighth trans person whose death has been reported in 2025. He is the second trans man, the second Black trans man, the seventh Black trans person, and the eighth transgender person of color on our list. Everyone on our list so far this year are BIPOC. Every single one.
Previous violent deaths in Tennessee include: 2024 – Starr Brown (28) 2022 –Kitty Monroe 2021 – Kitty Monroe (35) 2020 – Angel Haynes (24) 2019 – Jazzaline Ware 2014 – Gizzy Fowler and Alejandra Leos,
I look at this list of eight names in disbelief. Obviously it would be good for the violence to slow down, but I doubt that. Are their stories lost in the hellscape of political reporting? I wish I had any answer.
Rest in power, Shy’Parius. You moved through this world with love and commitment. We don’t know what happened the night your life was taken, but you did not deserve that. Your children did not deserve to lose you like you lost your father. The world is less bright without you. I hope we can advocate for justice in your name. Thank you for all that you did.
I’m so very sad.
May your memory be a blessing.
Deaths reported in 2025
- Tahiry ‘Tokyo’ Broom – February 9, 2025. Detroit, Michigan. Age 29.
- Sam Nordquist – February 2025. Canandaigua, New York. Age 24.
- Amyri Dior – February 21, 2025. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Age 23.
- Ervianna ‘Baydee’ Johnsonn – February 19, 2025. Tabor City, North Carolina. Age 25.
- Linda Becerra Moran – February 27, 2025. Los Angeles, California. Age 30.
- Kaitoria ‘Kai’ Le’Cynthia Bankz – March 31, 2025. Autaugaville, Alabama. Age 31.
- Kelsey Elem – April 24, 2025. St. Louis, Missouri. Age 25.
- Shy’Parius Dupree – May
Other deaths I’ve reported during 2025
- Elisa Rae Shupe – January 27, 2025. Syracuse, New York. Age 61.
- Chilendrina Gracia Dominguez – January 18, 2021. Reported February 2025. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Age 42.
- Amira O’Neill – July 6, 2023. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Age 44.
- Jay Lee – July 8, 2022. Oxford, Mississippi. Age 20.
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