Black trans activist and performer Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-McCray killed
Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-McCray (Facebook/Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-McCray)
Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-McCray, a Black transgender woman, drag performer, drag pageant competitor, and community activist, was shot and killed in Petersburg, Virginia, on 13 March. She was 42.
Police, responding to a reported shooting just before 2am on 13 March, found her with multiple gunshot wounds inside a home with “an unsecured door” where she was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have released no additional details, and no suspects have been publicly identified at this time.
As reported by the Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents on 21 March, Sanchez-McCray is the first known trans person to die from violence in the US in 2026.
She is the first trans woman, the first Black trans woman, and the first BIPOC trans person whose death has been reported.
However, as they note, other trans victims may have been misgendered in news reports as well, making reporting around their passing unclear.
Known to loved ones as Mabel, Sanchez-McCray was deeply embedded in her community, both in Virginia and North Carolina. She was an active figure in drag performance, a former titleholder in drag pageants, and a promoter who also supported LGBTQ+ businesses and organised outreach efforts.
Beyond her performance work, she was an advocate who spoke out against racism within LGBTQ+ spaces and regularly used her platform to uplift others and share critical community resources.
Friends, family, and community members have paid tribute to her life and impact, remembering her generosity, resilience, and commitment to creating change. A funeral service is scheduled for March 27 in Petersburg.
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