NBJC Mourns the Death of DeVonnie J’Rae Johnson
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com
LOS ANGELES – The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) mourns the death of DeVonnie J’Rae Johnson, a 28-year-old Black transgender woman. Johnson was shot and killed by a security guard at Ralph’s Grocery Store in Los Angeles, California, on August 7, 2023. She was not publicly identified until the family was informed of her death.
The security guard who fatally shot Johnson claims she attacked him. Her family maintains she was not the aggressor and has demanded further investigation into her death. The security guard has not been charged.
“This murder feels all too similar to Banko Brown, another trans sibling killed in California earlier this year by a security guard, and also reminiscent of the homicide of Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch member. Like law enforcement, community- and business-appointed security guards must be trained to manage their implicit biases, LGBTQ+ and race-based cultural competencies, and de-escalation tactics,” said Victoria Kirby York, MPA, Director of Public Policy and Programs at the National Black Justice Coalition. “At the same time, guards must also be held accountable for their actions – especially those that result in the deaths of people they are paid to serve and protect. We all must do more to end the epidemic of violence facing Black women. Prevention by pre-emption is only possible when a clear, consistent message is implemented that shows with action through accountability that Black Trans Lives Matter!”
DeVonnie was an artist who enjoyed music, comedies, and spending time with friends. She wanted to give back to her community. She was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and moved to Los Angeles to transition.
DeVonnie’s family has started a GoFundMe for funeral expenses, which you can donate to HERE.
Learn more about reducing gender-based violence here and here.
Look here to learn more about changing local laws and increasing protections for trans and non-binary community members.
The NBJC Stolen Lives list of trans and non-binary individuals lost to violence and hate can be found here.
