Tiffany Thomas, a 38-year-old Black trans woman, has been murdered in Texas, making her at least the 19th known trans person violently killed so far this year.

According to Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Thomas was shot to death on 24 April Dallas, Texas.

Just four months into 2021, Thomas is the 19th trans person murdered in the United States, although many deaths go unreported or misreported.

Her friends remembered her as someone with a “big heart, who was “funny” and who always “stayed laughing”.

According to the Dallas Police Department, which misgendered and deadnamed Thomas, she was found on the ground at a car wash and pronounced dead at the scene.

Naomi Green, of the Dallas trans rights organisation Abounding Prosperity, said in a statement: “I am saddened to learn of another senseless murder of a member of our LGBTQ+ community in the Dallas area.

“Though there are still questions surrounding all the details of their death, regardless of how they identified no one deserves to have their life cut short in this way.

“My heart goes out to their family and friends as they mourn the death of their loved one, and I hope and pray that they receive the justice and peace they deserve. As an entire Dallas community, we have to do better!”

HRC director of community engagement for the transgender justice initiative Tori Cooper added: “Over the last few days and weeks, we have received reports of numerous deaths of transgender and gender non-conforming people. 

“Tiffany did not deserve to die – none of the transgender and gender non-conforming people who have been killed this year deserved to lose their lives.