Man charged over murder of Black trans woman Davonta Curtis
Deandre Bell has been charged with the murder of Davonta Curtis (Chicago Police Department | Facebook/LEGAL HELP FIRM)
Davonta Curtis, a 31-year-old Black transgender woman, was found dead in her Chicago apartment after suffering multiple blunt force injuries in what police say was a fatal attack on 5 April.
This week, authorities have charged 24-year-old Deandre Bell with first-degree murder and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Court documents allege Bell searched online for methods of killing prior to the attack, saying he Googled “how to kill someone with a hammer” and “if a person gets hit in the head with a hammer while sleeping, what happens”, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday (14 April).
Curtis’ sister found her body on 8 April and notified the police. Prosecutors say Curtis’ car keys were also missing.
Later that day, police found Bell in possession of Curtis’ car and keys, in addition to a bloody hammer. Prosecutors say Bell allegedly admitted to killing Curtis, stealing her keys, phone and money, and identified himself in a video showing a man leaving Curtis’ apartment while in custody.
Prosecutors have not currently given a motive for the killing.
The case has raised renewed concerns about violence faced by transgender women, particularly those who may be navigating overlapping vulnerabilities such as intimate partner violence.
Curtis’ death comes amid a broader pattern of violence against Black trans women in the US, who remain disproportionately affected by fatal attacks. These attacks are often underreported, with early coverage of Curtis’ death misgendering her as an example – a common issue that can erase victims’ identities even in death.
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