Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

On Friday, September 11, 2026, a 27 year old Black trans woman was found dying from multiple gunshot wounds in the Charles Village neighborhood of Baltimore. Her name was Sophie Lee.

The Crime

According to WBALTV, officers responded to a call at 1:16 a.m. and found the victim in the area of North Calvert Street near East 24th Street. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sources said she had been shot in a nearby alley and was found lying in the middle of the intersection, with her purse discovered two blocks away.

Police have released few details on the investigation. Anyone with information can contact Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland anonymously at 1-866-7LOCKUP

Honoring Sophie

Sophie Lee was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She studied at the Baltimore School of the Arts. She identified as a Black trans woman and “girl who likes girls” on her socials.

Sophie have ties to The Royal Houses of Gabbanna, Voltaire, Pink Lady, and the House of Champions (House of Balenciaga). This spring, she was named Best New Overall Mother, an honor she was very proud of. Her feed is full of back and forth comments with members of her communities, celebrating life milestones as well as ballroom performances.

Sophie was an advocate, resisting erasure of trans women by the lesbian community. She posted about listening to Sade and her appreciation of music from the 70’s and 80’s. She enjoyed dancing and spoke with joy about Black Pride events.

Friends have planned a candlelight vigil on Sunday, September 13, 2026

Iya Damons CEO of Baltimore Safe Haven said “Sophie was more than what happened to her. She was a person. She was loved. She mattered. She deserved the opportunity to live, grow, laugh, love, and simply exist safely as herself. We are coming together to honor Sophie’s life, mourn her loss, and surround those who loved her with community.

The crowdfund set up to cover Sophie’s final expenses also said “Violence against transgender women cannot become something we simply accept. Sophie had a name. Sophie had a life. Sophie had people who loved her.”

The Context

Sophie Lee is 28th person whose death we’ve memorialized in 2026. She is the 23nd trans woman, the 16th trans person of color, and the 13th black trans woman.

28 people are on this list. 18 of them are BIPOC trans siblings. 13 were Black, two were Latina, and one was Pasifika. Eight were white, the identity of one is unknown as of now. We talk a lot about disproportionate impact – here is the evidence for those who doubt.

It is only September, but the total of these terrible deaths exceeds 2025 and comes nearer by day to the losses of 2024.

Earlier this year, we reported on the death of Asia Williams also in Baltimore. Looking back, we’ve memorialized Tai Lathan, Morgan Moore, Tasiyah ‘Siyah’ Woodland, Meghan Riley Lewis, Danny Henson. Taya Ashton, Johanna Metzger, Ashanti Carmon, Zoe Spears, Bailey Reeves, Tydie, Alphonza Watson, Keyonna Monroe Blackeney, Zella Ziona,  Kandy Hall, and Mia Henderson, That’s 18 violent deaths, most in Baltimore.

If all of this context overwhelms you, that’s appropriate. This isn’t intended to be a tidy little tribute that makes readers feel sad, but better. Reach into that overwhelm and do something with it.

Rest in power, Sophie.

You deserved a long, beautiful life to be the best mom and infuse the world with your joy. Thank you for helping to shape the ballroom and kiki world in Baltimore and beyond. Thank for resisting erasure of trans woman in lesbian spaces. And thank you for being your wonderful self.

May your memory be a revolution.

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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.

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.

Written by people who loved her on her GoFundMe

My name was Sophie.

On September 11, 2026, I was gunned down near 24th & Calvert Streets in Baltimore. A life that should have had decades left was suddenly over.

Now, instead of planning my future, my loved ones are planning my funeral.

Imagine being the mother who once picked out her baby’s first outfit—and now has to choose what her child will wear for the last time.That pain has no gender.

A mother’s tears don’t fall differently because her child was transgender. A family doesn’t hurt less because their loved one was different.

When you bury your child, you bury a piece of yourself.

Transgender people know what it feels like to be stared at, rejected, threatened, left behind, or afraid simply for existing.

But we still dream.

We still love.

We still belong to somebody.

Sophie deserved another birthday. Another laugh. Another chance to fall in love. She deserved to grow old.