(WASHINGTON, DC) – Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier today reported to Mayor Vincent C. Gray a homicide overnight at 6110 Dix Street NE in which the victim of a fatal shooting was a transgender person. Jeffrey D. Richardson, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs, also was advised of the incident. At this time MPD officials say they have no information to indicate that this is a hate crime. However, it is very early in the investigation.

While the investigation is still underway and the motive has not been determined, Mayor Gray decried the prevalence of hate crimes resulting from sexual orientation and gender bias.

“Every homicide in the District of Columbia is a tragedy for which the perpetrators must be brought to swift justice,” Mayor Gray said. “However, if the investigation concludes that this shooting was the result of bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity, MPD and my administration will work with this community to see that there is an appropriate response to this kind of violence, which cannot be tolerated.”