South Carolina Man Sentenced to Life for Murder of Black Transgender Woman

Daqua Lameek Ritter receives life sentence for the 2019 hate crime killing of Dime Doe, marking a historic conviction under federal hate crime laws.

Daqua Lameek Ritter was convicted of killing Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman, in Allendale, South Carolina, in 2019.
This case marks the first time someone has been convicted at trial under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act for violence against a transgender person.
Ritter's motive was linked to the exposure of his secret relationship with Doe, leading to her murder by gunshot.
Prosecutors argued for a life sentence without parole, citing the hate crime nature of the murder, while the defense sought a lesser sentence.
The sentencing underscores the Justice Department's commitment to prosecuting hate crimes and protecting the rights of the LGBTQI+ community.