Death of Rasheeda Williams aka Koko Da Doll: the star of the Kokomo City documentary on transgender women was shot dead

Rasheeda Williams, also known as Koko Da Doll, revealed in documentary about black transgender women Kokomo City winner at the Sundance Film Festival, was shot to death in southwest Atlanta. She was 35 years old.

Rasheeda Williams, who performed on stage as Koko Da Doll, was found dead, shot to death, in southwest Atlanta the evening of Tuesday April 18. “Upon arrival, officers found a victim with an apparent gunshot wound. She was unconscious and was pronounced dead at the scene“, can we read in particular in a police statement. Investigators are now trying to determine the circumstances surrounding the murder of the documentary star Kokomo City.

Rasheeda Williams, “the latest victim of violence against black transgender women“

If the police had not released the name of the victim, the other women who appeared in Kokomo City, as well as director D. Smith, confirmed that the victim was indeed their friend Rasheeda Williams. “On Tuesday night, Rasheeda Williams was shot dead in Atlanta. Rasheeda, aka Koko Da Doll, was the latest victim of violence against black transgender women. I created Kokomo City because I wanted to show the fun and natural side of black trans women. I wanted to show images that didn’t reveal the trauma or the statistics of transgender murder. I wanted to create something fresh and inspiring. I did it ! We did it“said director D. Smith in an Instagram post.”It is extremely difficult to react to Koko’s passing but as a team we are more encouraged than ever to inspire the world with her story. To show how much she was beautiful and full of life. She will inspire generations to come and will never be forgotten.“.

Tributes multiply after the death of Rasheeda Williams

The Sundance festival, where the documentary was presented last January and received two awards, reacted to the death of Rasheeda Williams. “We are saddened to learn of the death of Rasheeda Williams aka Koko Da Doll. We were honored to have him at the Festival this year with Kokomo City, where she reminded black transgender women that they could do anything and they could be whatever they want to be. It’s a tragic loss“, can we read on their Twitter account. Daniella Carter, one of the participants in the documentary Kokomo City, also had a thought for his co-star. For its part, the Atlanta police indicated that they were investigating “actively on three violent crimes involving transgender women this year. While these individual incidents are unrelated, we are acutely aware of the violence black transgender women face in America.A week before the murder of Rasheeda Williams, Atlanta police found the lifeless body of another black transgender woman, Ashley Burton, on the night of April 11.

Article written in collaboration with 6Médias