In the early morning hours of March 26, 2018, the life of Amia Tyrae Berryman, a 28-year-old Black transgender woman, was tragically cut short in a Baton Rouge, Louisiana motel room. Responding to reports of gunfire at the Shades Motel on Airline Highway, police discovered Berryman with gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene, marking another devastating loss for the transgender community, particularly for trans women of color.
Friends remembered Berryman as a sweet person
with a big heart. Lacking support from her biological family after transitioning, she had found a chosen family within the local LGBTQ+ community. Those who knew her described her as a beloved friend who, despite facing her own struggles with bullying, would stand up for others. She was employed at Alliance Home Health Care and was a graduate of Scotlandville Magnet High School in Baton Rouge.
The initial investigation into Berryman's death left the community searching for answers, with police initially reporting no known suspects or persons of interest. However, within days of the shooting, a significant breakthrough occurred in the case. Through a combination of witness statements, surveillance footage from the motel, and an examination of Berryman's phone records, investigators identified a suspect.
On March 29, 2018, Baton Rouge police arrested 22-year-old Dedrick Butler in connection with the homicide. Evidence indicated that Butler had entered Berryman's motel room shortly before the shooting. A friend of Berryman's, who was arriving at the motel at the time, reported hearing a gunshot from inside the room. Surveillance video then captured Butler leaving the room and driving away. Further investigation revealed recent messages between Butler and Berryman on her phone.
During questioning, Butler admitted to being present in the motel room with a firearm at the time of the shooting but denied being the one who pulled the trigger. He was subsequently booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of second-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The final outcome of the legal proceedings against Dedrick Butler, including details of a trial or conviction, are not available in publicly accessible online records.
