Missouri Moms Demand Action, Everytown Respond to Shooting Death of Transgender Woman in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement in response to reports that a trans woman was shot and killed by police officers following an earlier conflict with a neighbor. Although details are still unfolding, news reports indicate that Kiwi Herring was shot and killed in her home by responding police officers yesterday morning, after a dispute with her neighbor resulted in police being called to the apartment housing complex.

Kiwi Herring is at least the 19th transgender person killed nationwide so far this year. At least 13 of the victims were killed with guns, and 17 of those victims were women of color. A list compiled by The Advocate of transgender people killed nationwide in 2016 showed that more than half (52 percent) were killed with guns.

STATEMENT FROM BECKY MORGAN, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE MISSOURI CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:

“I am horrified to learn that yet another trans woman was killed with a gun –at least the 13th this year, and the second in less than two weeks. My thoughts are with Kiwi’s family and friends, especially her three children. While details are still unfolding, it is a tragedy anytime a transgender American is killed. We must do more to ensure that marginalized Americans do not have to live with the ever-present threat of violence.”