A vigil was held for Tyli'a "NaNa Boo" Mack, a 21-year-old transgender woman, was held Friday at the site of her murder. (Photo courtesy of Transgender Health Empowerment)

By LOU CHIBBARO JR, Washington Blade
Aug 27 2009, 7:54 PM  |     |     |  

The family of a 21-year-old transgender woman who was stabbed to death on a Northwest Washington street appealed Thursday for witnesses to come forward and help police identify a suspect in the case.

Police said they found Joshua Mack, who used the name Tyli'a "NaNa Boo" Mack, and another transgender woman suffering from stab wounds about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday on the sidewalk in front of 209 Q St., N.W.

Mack was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later at Howard University Hospital, police said. A second victim, whom police did not identify, was taken to a nearby hospital and was in stable condition and expected to survive her injuries.

Friends and family members of Mack announced they were holding a candlelight vigil to commemorate her life at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28 on the 200 block of Q Street, N.W., at the site of the murder.

Acting Lt. Brett Parson, who oversees the D.C. police's Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit, said homicide investigators working on the case listed the incident as a "possible" hate crime.

"This determination is based on some information obtained during the early stages of the investigation that indicated some homophobic language may have been used during the attack," Parson said. "This determination is only preliminary and the final determination as to motive will be developed as the investigation continues."

Police on Wednesday released a flyer displaying a photo of Mack and announcing they were offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for her death.

"All I want is the people to come forward and talk about it," said Beverlyn Mack, Tyli'a Mack's mother.

Beverlyn Mack struggled to hold back tears as she and a daughter and son, who are Tyli'a Mack's siblings, spoke to reporters at a news conference Thursday outside the offices of Transgender Health Empowerment, a non-profit D.C. group that provides services for the transgender community.

"I don't like it because my child was born just like everyone else — through a mother's womb," she said. "And I don't think it's fair for other people to take other people's lives."

Tyli'a Mack's sister, Vieda Hubbard, and her older brother, Aaron Walker, joined their mother in acknowledging that they and other family members knew that Mack was transgendered and that the family respected and loved her.

Beverlyn Mack said she spoke frequently with Earline Budd, a counselor with Transgender Health Empowerment, about Tyli'a Mack's involvement with the organization's programs.

Parson said homicide investigators were hoping to speak with the surviving stabbing victim in the case late Thursday after doctors were expected to allow her to see visitors.

Brian Watson, an official with Transgender Health Empowerment, said a THE client who knows the surviving victim told him that she spoke to the victim sometime Thursday.

Watson said the client gave him this account of what happened based on what the surviving victim told her:

• The surviving victim was walking with Tyli'a Mack to the THE offices at the request of Mack, who wanted to introduce the surviving victim to the services provided by THE. While the two stopped in a Giant supermarket at Ninth and O Streets, N.W., a man walking with a woman started an argument with Mack. According to Watson, the surviving victim believes the unidentified man singled out Mack because he perceived Mack as being transgendered.

• The surviving victim said she and Mack left the Giant store and continued walking in the direction of the THE offices, which are located at North Capitol and P Streets, N.W. The man who started the argument at the Giant store apparently followed them, Watson reported the surviving witness as saying.

• When Mack and the surviving victim reached the 200 block of Q Street, N.W., en route to the THE offices, an exchange of words between the man and Mack "escalated," the surviving witness told the THE client. A fight ensued and the man stabbed Mack and the other victim, according to the surviving witness's account.

A police spokesperson could not be immediately reached for comment on Watson's retelling of the surviving victim's account.

Anthony Hall, THE's executive director, issued a statement Thursday saying the group's staff, board, and clients were "appalled, sickened and saddened" over the double stabbing that took Mack's life and resulted in the serious wounding of the other transgender woman.

"As members of the transgender community, we are too well aware of the mental and physical effects of threats and violence," says the statement. "The violent attack on Aug. 26 is one in a long string of violence against transgender people in the Metro D.C. area."

Hall's statement also expressed concern that the latest attack against a D.C. transgender person occurred after Mayor Adrian Fenty and the D.C. City Council cut funds for a wide range of non-profit organizations, including THE.

"This act of extreme violence comes at a time when District budget cuts threaten to severely deplete our organization's funds," Hall said. "However, our resolve remains. We are committed to a continued provision of supportive housing, health guidance, disease prevention awareness, and other related programs that positively impact the lives of our diverse populations in Washington."

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