In the early morning hours of May 8, 2021, the life of 24-year-old Joshua Serenity Hollis, a Black transgender woman, was tragically cut short in Albany, Georgia. As she walked down a city street, an unknown assailant approached her from behind and fired a single shot into her back before fleeing the scene. The fatal encounter was captured on a video later released by the Albany Police Department.
Having moved to Albany from Orlando, Florida, in 2019, Serenity, as she was known, was building a new life for herself. Her death sent shockwaves through her family and the local community, who remember her as a vibrant individual. The nature of the crime led authorities, including the Dougherty County District Attorney, to investigate her death as a potential hate crime, a sentiment echoed by her family who believe she may have been targeted due to her identity.
This was not the first time Serenity had been a victim of violence. About two and a half years prior to her death, she was attacked and stabbed multiple times at an Albany nightclub. Her murder became part of a grim statistic, marking at least the 25th violent death of a transgender or gender non-conforming person in the United States in 2021.
The investigation into Serenity's death remains ongoing. Despite the release of the video showing the suspect, no arrests have been made in connection with her murder. Her family continues to seek justice, and her story has been highlighted by advocacy groups as a stark reminder of the violence faced by the transgender community, particularly Black transgender women.
