Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

A 36 year old Native Trans woman was shot and killed in Minneapolis on October 3, 2026. Her name was Stella Nez Perce.

The Crime

According to Fox9, Minneapolis police responded to a report of a shooting on a Green Line train at 9 PM.

Police say the train was traveling from the Stadium Village stop outside Huntington Bank Stadium to the Westgate station in St. Paul, when at the Westgate stop, officers found a person suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite lifesaving efforts, they were pronounced dead at the scene.

Surveillance footage showed Edwards get on the light rail at the U.S. Bank Stadium station at 8:48 p.m. and sit in the back seat of the train car.Court records state that Nez Perce then got on at the East Bank station at about 8:57 p.m. and sat in the back train car as well, opposite Edwards. The video reportedly showed the twotalkin g to each other, and then Edwards shot Nezperce three times. Court documents say that Edwards then got off at the Prospect Park station at about 9:02 p.m.

Police charged Jaquan Edwards with one count of second degree homicide. They have not released details on the verbal exchange between the two, but there is no indication (yet) that they knew each other.

Honoring Stella

Stella has ties to the Oglala Lakota people of South Dakota and Nez Perce Tribe (Nimiipuu). Stella recently transitioned and according to her sister, Jo, she identified as Two-Spirit.

She was born in Minneapolis and recently lived in Bozeman, Montana. She graduated from Minneapolis South High School Class. Stella liked the music of H.E.R. and worked in food service.

Jo reported that Stella had been bullied and harassed on the train because of her gender identity on that very same train.

In mid-October, her family went to the train where she was killed to honor and ceremonially heal her final moments. She is survived by her father, two sisters, and three brothers along with extended family.

“We told her to let go and everything was going to be OK, and sure enough, the smoke in the bowl, it just ignited,” she said.

An all-night wake took place on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at the Upper Midwest American Indian Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with an evening service held at 7:00 PM

Her sister shared:

My sister lived life to the fullest and never hid who she truly was. At just 36 years old, her life was taken far too soon, leaving behind broken hearts and memories that will last a lifetime. She was funny, adventurous, smart, driven, and patient. She had the best smile, a beautiful spirit, and a way of bringing light and laughter into the lives of those around her. She embraced life with open arms, lived it on her own terms, and was never afraid to be herself. Her time here was far too short, but the love she gave, the joy she brought, and the memories she created will live on forever.

I have not found many personal details about Stella. Her family has established a crowdfund to help with final expenses.

Context

Stella is the 34th trans person whose death we’ve reported in 2026, some of which occured in previous years but came to light in this one.

She is the 25th trans woman, the 21st trans person of color, and the second person of Indigenous or Native descent. She is the first Native American person. Of these 34 people, 17 were Black, two were Latina and three were of Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) identity. 11 were white, the identity of one is unknown as of now.

From Minnesota, we’ve reported on the 2025 death of William ‘Ike’ Eickholt. In 2024, we reported on the murder of Liara Kaylee Tsai and Ra’Lasia Wright. In 2023, we memorialized Savannah Williams, all killed in Minnesota.

Rest in power, Stella. No matter the words exchanged, your death is inexcusable and a wound for our entire community. You should be able to ride a commuter train without fearing for your life. Our collective failure to keep you safe is a great failure. Your family grieves you, as do we all. You are more than any statistic or single moment of your life story.

May your memory be a revolution

Deaths reported in 2026

These individuals are part of the trans community including transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and gender creative folx. Please do not share this content without attribution. Thank you

1. Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-Mccray – Petersburg, Virginia. March 13, 2026. Age 42.
2. Davonta Curtis – Chicago, Illinois. April 5, 2026. Age 32.
3. Dannielle Spillman – San Francisco, California. April 16, 2026. Age 74.
4. Aleanna Royal Belcher – Binghamton, New York. April 17, 2026. Age 31.
5. Lucas Redbeard Knapp – Candy Kitchen, Cibola County, New Mexico, April 18, 2026. Age 39.
6. Hailey Singleton – Dunnellton, Florida, May 5, 2026. Age 29.
7. Lanessa Rodriguez – Ft Pierce, Florida, April 28, 2026. Age 35.
8. Jade Roberts – Houston, Texas, January 2, 2026. Age 25.
9. Paris Harris – Dallas, Texas, April 17, 2026. Age 21.
10. Eryka Caldwell – New York, New York, May 17, 2026. Age 41.
11. Nathaniel Potts – Eldorado, Illinois, May 20, 2026. Age 16.
12. Persia Amarra Conway – Houston, Texas. Date unconfirmed. Found on May 26, 2026. Age 33.
13. Juniper Blessing – Seattle, Washington. May 8, 2026. Age 19.
14. Marlow Trottie – Alexandria, Louisiana. June 8, 2026. Age 35.
15. La’Daijah Walters – Mobile, Alabama. June 22, 2026. Age 32.
16. William ‘Ike’ Eickholt – Hastings, Minnesota. February 1, 2025. Age 74.
17. Kayonna Ankeny – Augusta, Georgia. February 5, 2023. Age 30.
18. Asia Williams – Baltimore, Maryland. June 23, 2026. Age 38.
19. Haley Brook Terry – Mobile, Alabama. April 6, 2025. Age 20.
20. Jayla McGee – Belle Glade, Florida (presumed). July 5, 2026. Age 19.
21. Cormac Robinson – Carrollton, Georgia. October 15, 2025. Age 24.
22. Patti Wilson – Grand Junction, Colorado. June 19, 2026. Age 31.
23. Juju Nadeau – Portland, Maine. August 5, 2026. Age 21.
24. Sophie Lee – Baltimore, Maryland. September 11, 2026. Age 27.
25. Jonathan McKinsey – San Francisco, California. September 26, 2026. Age 40.
26. Denise Johnson – Halawa, Hawaii. August 4, 2026. Age 55.
27. Jhené Aubricht – St. Louis, Missouri. August 18, 2026. Age 21.
28. Dwight Doughty also known as Ya’Hyrah Alexander – New Orleans, Louisiana. October 26, 2026.
29. Katherine Allison Harrison – Kansas City, Kansas, October 29, 2026.
30. Stella Nez Perce – Minneapolis, Minnesota. October 3, 2026.

Other Deaths

We are following these cases, but cannot confirm the details right now.

• Kalena ‘Peaches’ Croskey – Birmingham, Alabama. June 11, 2026. Age 35.
• Daniella Analee Escobedo – Las Vegas, Nevada (unconfirmed), April 12, 2026. Age 34.
• Name Unknown – Charlotte, North Carolina. Found on May 21, 2026. Date of death unknown. Age unknown.
• Leia Trysiss Ali – Las Vegas, Nevada. May 24, 2026. Age 35.