Authorities Seek Suspect In the Murder of Kier Lapri Kartier, the 38th Transgender Person Killed in 2021
GayNrd Editors
A 21-year-old Black transgender woman named Keir Lapir Kartier was shot to death and found in her car in Arlington, Texas, on the night of September 30, 2021. Family and friends have described Keir as a "very strong, independent person" who was "very loved and loved a lot of people" and who would always have someone's back "through thick and thin."
According to The Daily Beast: Kartier was found unresponsive in a car with a gunshot wound and transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Authorities have not named a suspect in the killing. One of Solomon's close friends, who goes by Madii Reloaded, shared a remembrance on the Facebook page of the Nu Trans Movement, a transgender rights activist organization: "She was transitioning and very well almost done. I remember her trips to Houston and her nervousness with it all. God this hurts. So very bad. She would have anxiety before every appointment and would constantly ruin her nails by tapping them or biting them. I remember the good times when she was so excited to get good news on her levels or when she was able to finally pull a shirt over after her last procedure."
"I am absolutely devastated to hear the news of yet another trans sister lost," said Deputy Executive Director Victoria Kirby York of The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC). "Keir was so young, as were many of the other trans brothers and sisters we have lost this year. We have lost so many people, yet we have seen little action taken to stop this epidemic of violence. As I have said before and will continue to say until it happens, legislation at all levels of government must be introduced and passed that will deter this violence and protect the trans community. Community members must make it clear to lawmakers that their constituents support clear anti-discrimination protections for the trans community. Law enforcement must hold those who murder trans people accountable and make getting answers for the victim's loved ones a priority. Those in the media need to treat victims with the respect we all deserve when reporting on their deaths, which means using a person's chosen name and not misgendering them. Together, we can make the spaces trans community members occupy safer."
Kier Lapir Kartier is one of 38 transgender, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming person known to be killed in 2021. Most of those lost in 2021 have been Black trans women, and Kartier is the 5th transgender person to be killed in Texas this year.
The Arlington Police Department is currently looking for any relevant surveillance video and witnesses. The police ask anyone with information on the death of Kier Lapri Kartier to contact Detective Spencer at 817-459-6466, referencing report 2021-02730723, or call Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at 817-469-8477.
Learn more about reducing gender-based violence here and here.
To learn more about changing local laws and increasing protections for trans and non-binary community members, look here.
The NBJC Stolen Lives list of trans and non-binary individuals lost to violence and hate can be found here.
Below is The PghLesbian Correspondent's list of transgender, gender, and non-binary neighbors lost to violence in 2021. Please do not copy or share this list without attribution.
Tyianna Davarea Alexandra — Chicago, Illinois. January 6, 2021. Age 28.
Samuel Edmund Damián Valentín — Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. January 9, 2021. Age 21.
Dominique Jackson — Jackson, Mississippi. January 25, 2021. Age 30.
Bianca 'Muffin' Bankz — Atlanta, Georgia. January 21, 2021. Age 31.
Fifty Bandzzz — Baton Rouge, Louisiana. January 28, 2021. Age 21.
Alexus "Kimmy" Braxton — Miami, Florida. February 4, 2021. Age 45.
Chynaa Carrillo — New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. February 18, 2021. Age 24.
Jeffrey 'JJ' Bright — Ambridge, Pennsylvania. February 22, 2021. Age 16.
Jasmine Cannady — Ambridge, Pennsylvania. February 22, 2021. Age 22.
Jenna Franks — Jacksonville, North Carolina, February 24, 2021. Age 34. **
Diamond Nicole 'Kyree' Sanders — Cincinnati, Ohio. March 3, 2021. Age 23.
Rayanna Pardo — Los Angeles, California, March 17, 2021. Age 26. ***
Aidelen Evans — Port Arthur, Texas, March 2021. Age 24 ****
Dominique Lucious — Springfield, Missouri, April 8, 2021. Age 26.
Jaida Peterson — Charlotte, North Carolina, April 4, 2021. Age 29.
Remy Fennell — Charlotte, North Carolina, April 15, 2021. Age 28.
Tiara Banks — Chicago, Illinois, April 21, 2021. Age 26.
Natalia Smüt Lopez — San Jose, California, April 23, 2021. Age 24.
Tiffany Thomas — Dallas, Texas, April 21, 2021. Age 38.
Iris Santos — Houston, Texas, April 23, 2021. Age 22.
Jahaira M. DeAlto — Boston, Massachusetts, May 2, 2021. Age 42.
Keri Washington — Clearwater, Florida, May 1, 2021. Age 49.
Danny Henson — Baltimore, Maryland, May 4, 2021. Age 31.
Whispering Wind Bear Spirit — York, Pennsylvania, May 4, 2021 Age 41
Sophie Vasquez — Atlanta, Georgia, May 4, 2021. Age 36.
Serenity Hollis — Albany, Georgia, May 8, 2021. Age 24.
Oliver "Ollie" Taylor — Gervais, Oregon, May 19, 2021. Age 27.
Thomas Hardin — York, South Carolina, May 2, 2021. Age 35.
Poe Black / Oliver Jackson — Slab City, Niland, California, May 11, 2021 (estimated). Age 21.
EJ Boykin / Novaa Watson — Lynchburg, Virginia, May 14, 2021. Age 23.
Taya Ashton — Suitland, Maryland, July 17, 2021. Age 20.
Shai Vanderpump — Trenton, New Jersey, July 30, 2021. Age 23.
Tierramarie Lewis — Cleveland, Ohio, June 12, 2021. Age 30.
Miss CoCo — Dallas, Texas, August 7, 2021. Age 44.
Pooh Johnson — Shreveport, Louisiana, August 23, 2021. Age 25.
Disaya Monaee Smith – Dolton, Illinois, September 6, 2021. Age 32.
Brianna Ulmer Hamilton – Chicago, Illinois, September 17, 2021. Age 25.
Kier Laprice (Kartier) Solomon – Dallas, Texas, September 30, 2021. Age 21.
We are also still monitoring these suspicious deaths from 20/21 (in addition to the 44 documented killings.)
Fendi Mon'ezah Armstrong — Lithonia, Georgia, November 11, 2020. Age 39
Kimberely Patricia Cope — Athens, Georgia, December 27, 2020. Age 40.
Natasha Keianna — Detroit, Michigan, January 12, 2021. Age 37.
Bonaire 'Bonnie' Black — Atlanta, Georgia, December 31, 2020. Age 19.
Koko Nia Labeija — Chicago, Illinois, Found June 2020, Identified April 2021, Age 19
Haven Bailey — Villa Park, Illinois, May 24, 2021. Age 25.
Categories: Crime
Tags: Black Trans Women, Keir Lapir Kartier, LGBT Hate Crime, Murder, The National Black Justice Coalition, Transgender