Daqua Lameek Ritter, Hate Crime Murder, South Carolina 2019

A South Carolina man has been found guilty of hate crime murder in the killing of a transgender woman.

A federal jury delivered a guilty verdict against Daqua Lameek Ritter, 36, in the murder of Dime Doe, 31, a Black transgender woman, who was lured to a remote area in Allendale, South Carolina, and shot three times in the head on Aug. 4, 2019.

The jury found Ritter guilty of one count of hate crime murder, one count of federal firearms, and one count of obstruction, all arising out of Doe’s murder.

The evidence presented at trial showed that Ritter was upset about rumors of his sexual relationship with Doe and lured her to the remote area before shooting her. The government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ritter murdered Doe because of her gender identity.

Ritter then burned the clothes he was wearing during the crime, disposed of the murder weapon, and repeatedly lied to law enforcement, according to the indictment.

The case marks the first trial under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act for violence against a transgender person.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brook Andrews, Ben Garner, and Elle Klein for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

Ritter faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case, with the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Allendale County Sheriff’s Office, and Allendale Police Department.

Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer said, ‘Acts of violence against LGBTQI+ people, including transgender women of color like Dime Doe, are on the rise and have no place in our society.’

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said, ‘A unanimous jury has found the defendant guilty for the heinous and tragic murder of Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman.’

U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina said, ‘Years of collaborative work were validated by a jury’s unanimous verdict: guilty. This sends a message of hope to our community that we will fight for the rights of those targeted for their gender identity or sexual orientation.’

Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office said, ‘Justice has prevailed in this case.’

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