Daqua Lameek Ritter Convicted in Historic Federal Hate Crime Trial

Ritter faces life imprisonment for the murder of a Black transgender woman, marking a precedent-setting case for gender identity-based hate crimes.

Daqua Lameek Ritter was found guilty of a hate crime, using a firearm in connection with the murder, and obstructing justice in the killing of a Black transgender woman known as 'Dime Doe'.
The conviction marks the nation's first federal trial over a hate crime based on gender identity, with Ritter facing a maximum of life imprisonment without parole.
The case highlights a surge in attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, with transgender women of color disproportionately affected by violence and hate crimes.
Evidence presented at the trial included witness testimony, text messages, and body camera footage linking Ritter to the crime scene.
Federal hate crime laws have evolved to include offenses motivated by the victim's sexual orientation or gender identity, with the first conviction for a gender identity-based crime occurring in 2017.