Debarione Seals, age 26, was tragically killed on December 14, 2017, in Houston, Texas. Debarione, a transgender woman also known as Brandi Seals, was found shot multiple times at around 6 a.m. in the streets of Sunnyside, a neighborhood in Houston. Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots, and upon investigation, they discovered Seals lying in the driveway of an unfinished home. Despite the arrival of law enforcement and medical assistance, Seals had succumbed to her injuries.
The circumstances surrounding Debarione's death indicate that she may have been targeted because of her gender identity. According to investigators, the attack was potentially a result of someone realizing she was transgender. The incident was part of a troubling trend of violence against transgender women of color, and it brought the number of transgender individuals murdered in the United States in 2017 to at least 28, making it one of the deadliest years on record for the community.
Debarione Seals was known for being a loving person who had the support of her family during her transition. Community members expressed their grief and frustration, condemning the continued violence faced by transgender people. Her death was met with calls for justice and the hope that awareness would bring more significant protective measures for the transgender community in Houston and across the nation.
