On November 10, 2024, at approximately 9:15 p.m., Greensboro Police Department officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 400 block of Guilford College Road. Upon arrival, they discovered 25-year-old Juquan "Cocoa" Hamilton inside a crashed 2014 Honda Accord, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, Hamilton was pronounced dead at the scene.
Hamilton, a transgender woman known in the ballroom community as "Quanesha Shantel," had been in a romantic relationship with 31-year-old Jeremy Reynolds. The couple had ended their two-year relationship four months prior to the incident, but Reynolds reportedly continued to contact Hamilton, becoming increasingly upset over the breakup.
According to arrest warrants, Hamilton was seated in her vehicle when Reynolds allegedly approached and fired multiple shots with a semi-automatic weapon through the driver's side window. Despite her injuries, Hamilton managed to drive a short distance before crashing. Reynolds was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling or vehicle. He appeared in court on November 13, 2024, where he was denied bond and remains detained at the Greensboro Detention Center.
Hamilton's mother, Toi Ni'Cole Ratliff, recalled that her daughter expressed a desire to transition at the age of 11, a decision Ratliff supported wholeheartedly. Hamilton was an active participant in ballroom competitions across the Southeast, performing under the drag name "Quanesha Shantel." She was known for her radiant personality and had recently enrolled in nursing school, embracing her identity and future with enthusiasm.
The tragic death of Juquan "Cocoa" Hamilton highlights the ongoing violence faced by transgender individuals, particularly transgender women of color. Advocacy groups have called for increased awareness and protective measures to address the systemic issues contributing to such acts of violence.
