The first person to be found guilty in a federal hate crime case based on gender identity is a South Carolina man.
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According to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, “a majority jury has found the defendant guilty for the terrible and tragic death of Dime Doe, a Black trans woman.”
Daqua Lameek Ritter was found guilty on all counts on February 24 after a four-day trial in South Carolina, including one hate crime charge, one federal firearms charge, one obstruction charge, and the death of Dime.
“The judge’s ruling sends a clear message: Black trans lives matter, bias-motivated violence will not be tolerated, and hate crime perpetrators will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Clarke continued.
This defendant is the first to be found guilty by jury conviction for a hate crime motivated by gender identity under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Clarke’s statement highlighted the “historic” nature of this case. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
This groundbreaking piece of legislation from 2009 allows the federal government to prosecute hate crimes perpetrated on the basis of a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
“We want the Black transgender community to know that you are heard, that we support the LGBTQI+ community, and that we will use every tool at our disposal to bring justice to the victims and their families,” Clarke said.
Ritter was upset that “rumors about his intimate relationship with Dime Doe were out in the community,” according to the trial’s evidence. Prosecutors exchanged text messages and showed evidence that detailed the key relationship.
According to the Associated Press, Ritter’s partner “insulted him with a homophobic slur” after finding out about the alleged encounter and “their exchanges grew hostile” over text shortly before the death.
The prosecutor was informed that Ritter lured Dime to a remote location in South Carolina on August 4 and shot her three times in the head. He then burned his clothes, disposed of the murder weapons, and “repeatedly lied to law enforcement.”
Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer stated, “Violence against
LGBTQI+ people, including trans women of color like Dime Doe, is on the rise and has no place in our society.”
“The Justice Department takes all acts of violence motivated by bias seriously and will not hesitate to hold those responsible accountable. No one should have to live in fear of violent crime because of who they are,” Mizer added.
Ritter has received a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. A later date will allow for a sentencing hearing.
