Iris Santos, a 22-year-old Latina transgender woman, was tragically shot and killed on April 23, 2021, in Houston, Texas. She was sitting at a picnic table outside a Chick-fil-A restaurant on Westheimer Road when an unknown suspect approached and opened fire. Iris was taken to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to her injuries. The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m., and the restaurant manager who heard the gunshots alerted the police.
The Houston Police Department has been
investigating the case but has not yet identified a suspect. Surveillance footage shows a clean-shaven Black man wearing a dark-colored top and gray or white sweatpants fleeing the scene. The suspect was seen running past cameras near the crime scene and entering an apartment complex. Despite the release of the surveillance video and a detailed map of the suspect's pathway, no arrests have been made, and the motive behind the shooting remains unknown.
Iris' family and the community have been vocal in seeking justice for her death. Her mother, Maria Carreon, believes her daughter was targeted because of her transgender identity. The Human Rights Campaign has also highlighted the increasing violence against transgender individuals, noting that Iris' death was one of many in a year marked by a significant rise in anti-LGBTQ hate crimes.
The investigation into Iris Santos' murder is ongoing, and HPD continues to urge anyone with information to come forward. The family hopes that the community's support will help bring the perpetrator to justice and prevent further violence against transgender people.
