In the autumn of 2020, the life of a young Black transgender woman, Kendrick Markis Skylar Heath, was tragically cut short at the age of 20. On November 4, 2020, Heath was fatally shot. While initial information was scarce, it was later confirmed that she had been killed.
The reporting of Heath's death was fraught with complications that led to a significant delay in public awareness of her murder. Early accounts and an obituary misgendered and deadnamed her, obscuring her identity as a transgender woman and contributing to the lack of initial media coverage. It was largely through the efforts of LGBTQ+ advocates and community members that her story came to light more broadly, highlighting the violence and discrimination faced by transgender individuals, particularly Black transgender women.
Though some early sources mentioned Memphis, Tennessee, as the location of her death, a greater number of reports from LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations and news outlets have since confirmed that the fatal shooting occurred in Miami, Florida. The Miami-Dade County Police Department opened a homicide investigation into her death. Friends and family remembered Heath as a "kind and gentle soul" with a "warm personality" who had a deep love for her family and friends.
As of late 2023, there have been no public announcements regarding any arrests or the identification of any suspects in the murder of Skylar Heath. The investigation into her death remains ongoing. Her case is a somber reminder of the disproportionate levels of violence experienced by the transgender community.
