In the late hours of a December night in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 18-year-old Cameron Jamal Miikquise Thompson, a Black transgender woman, left her home with just her cellphone. By the next afternoon, her family's concern grew when they realized she hadn't returned and her personal belongings were still in her room. Their attempts to reach her went straight to voicemail.
A call to the police to report her missing led to the heartbreaking news that a body had been found earlier that day.
Around 1 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2024, Thompson's body was discovered in the yard of a residence in the 600 block of East 35th Avenue. She had been shot multiple times in what investigators believe occurred in the early morning hours. Known to her loved ones as 'Cam Marie,' Thompson was remembered as a sweet and quiet person with a contagious smile who loved fashion and the beauty industry. She had recently graduated from Job Corps, was working at UPS, and had dreams of attending college and buying a car.
Authorities quickly identified a suspect, a juvenile male who knew Thompson. An investigation by the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit suggested the motive was connected to social media posts Thompson had made regarding the suspect's sexual orientation. The suspect was arrested and charged with murder. Although the suspect is a minor, he is being charged as an adult; however, his identity has not been publicly released due to his age. Thompson's family believes her murder was a hate crime, a sentiment echoed by advocates for the LGBTQ+ community.
