An Indigenous woman, 41-year-old Whispering Wind Bear Spirit, died on May 4, 2021, after being shot during a home invasion in York, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred the night before, around 11:25 p.m., on the 300 block of Smyser Street. Bear Spirit, who also was known as Jennifer Jean Makos, was transported to a local hospital where she underwent emergency surgery, but ultimately succumbed to a single gunshot wound to the torso.
The tragic event unfolded when several individuals attempted to rob a male resident of the home of a pound of marijuana. During the robbery, one of the suspects began to physically assault the male resident while another pointed a firearm at others in the home. In an act of bravery, Bear Spirit attempted to de-escalate the situation and get the intruders to leave. It was then that she was shot. After the shooting, the suspects fled the scene on foot.
In the course of the investigation, police identified 19-year-old Oscar Cook as one of the individuals involved. Investigators learned that Cook was an acquaintance of the residents and had previously purchased marijuana, THC wax, and psychedelic mushrooms from the home. It is alleged that Cook assisted in planning the robbery with his co-conspirators because they knew the male resident had taken marijuana from one of the other suspects. Cook was subsequently arrested and charged with burglary, robbery, and conspiracy to commit burglary and robbery. Reports indicated there were two other unidentified accomplices, and it was not immediately clear who fired the fatal shot.
Whispering Wind Bear Spirit described herself as 'Shawnee by Birth and Potowatomi by Relations' and was remembered as a brave and generous person. Her death was noted as the first reported killing of an Indigenous person within the transgender or gender non-conforming community in 2021.
