30-Year Sentence for Murder of Trans Woman in Minneapolis

Sep 12

Hennepin County prosecutors say a 25-year-old man has been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for the 2023 death of Savannah Ryan Williams, a transgender woman found fatally shot in Minneapolis.

Damarean Kaylon Bible was sentenced on Tuesday to 367 months—equivalent to about 30 and a half years—after a jury convicted him of second-degree murder earlier this summer.

The killing occurred on November 29, 2023, when officers were called to the 3000 block of 4th Ave. S. at around 9 a.m. after receiving reports of a person not breathing. Police arrived to find Williams with a fatal gunshot wound.

Witnesses told police they heard a gunshot near the scene around 6 a.m., and surveillance footage led investigators to Bible, who was located at a nearby apartment building and arrested.

“Savannah Ryan Williams should still be here with us,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “This senseless act of violence against a Native and Cuban transgender woman has devastated her family, left her partner without their person, and created a deep void in the community she touched. Savannah deserved to feel safe.”

Authorities reviewed the case for potential bias-motivated charges but said they could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the crime was motivated by hate, despite concerns raised by the nature of the attack.

“This was part of a broader pattern of violence against trans women of color,” Moriarty added. “We remain committed to ensuring that all marginalized individuals are protected and safe in our communities.”

Transgender women, particularly women of color, have been disproportionately affected by violence. According to national data, transgender people are four times more likely to face violence than their cisgender peers, with 85% of trans homicide victims from 2021 to 2022 being people of color.

Minnesota Representative Leigh Finke, the first openly transgender member of the Minnesota Legislature, echoed these concerns following the sentencing. “Savannah was a beloved member of her community, and her death highlights the ongoing epidemic of violence against trans people,” Finke said. “We will continue our work to ensure that trans and queer people are safe.”

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