http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-murder-mayor-turner-police-transgender-12434888.php
Houston mayor and police chief speak at vigil of slain transgender woman
Published 6:58 pm, Friday, December 15, 2017
Violent crimes per 1,000 people: 1.29
Population: 184,941
Source: FBI 2015
Violent crimes per 1,000 people: 1.29
Population: 184,941
Source: FBI 2015
A vigil was held at Houston City Hall on Friday for Brandi Seals, a 26-year-old transgender woman found shot to death Wednesday morning near Sunnyside in southeast Houston.
Attending the vigil were members of the Houston LGBTQ community as well as Mayor Sylvester Turner and Police Chief Art Acevedo, who were both filmed speaking at the event.
"We all have to keep standing because we're still fighting against that type of attitude that literally is killing people in this country, and in this state, and in this city," Turner said.
Turner said he believed the city could reach a point where people could be who they are without fear of being injured or killed.
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Media: Wibbitz"On behalf of our entire police department," Acevedo said, "We just wanted to express our condolences first and foremost to a member of the community that was taken so violently."
He said the city would continue to stand for its most vulnerable and said he was proud of the work he and the mayor did to help kill last legislative session's bathroom bill.
Acevedo also apologized on behalf of the department's lack of sensitivity when speaking to Fox 26 about Seals, who was referred to as a male by an HPD detective.
"I actually have talked to that detective and I'm convinced that as insensitive as the comments were, they were mistakes of the mind and not of the heart," Acevedo said. "He is intent on trying to catch this murderer."
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Seals is the 28th transgender person to be murdered this year, according to advocacy group Transgender Law Center. She was shot in the driveway of a newly constructed residence near 8000 Brandon St, police said. Authorities have not released any details surrounding the circumstances of her death.
Police are urging anyone with any information about the killing to contact HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
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Fernando Ramirez is a reporter for Chron.com and the Houston Chronicle. You can read more of his stories here and follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93.
