Columbia, S.C. — In a landmark ruling, a South Carolina man, Daqua Lameek Ritter, has been found guilty of a hate crime in the killing of Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman, marking the nation’s first federal trial over an alleged hate crime based on gender identity. The verdict was reached after a nearly four-hour deliberation, jurors convicted Ritter not only of the hate crime but also of using a firearm in connection with the fatal shooting and obstructing justice.
Dime Doe, a 24-year-old transgender woman, was fatally shot three times in her head on August 4, 2019, with jurors determining that her gender identity was the motivating factor behind the crime. The trial, which spanned four days and saw nearly 100 pieces of evidence presented, shed light on the secret sexual relationship between Doe and Ritter and the tensions that arose following the exposure of their affair in their small town of Allendale, South Carolina.
As of the postdate of this blog post, only four cities in the state of South Carolina have hate crime ordinances on the books: Bluffton, Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, with Florence pushing to soon follow suit. It should be noted that South Carolina and Wyoming are also the only two states without state-wide hate crime ordinances.
Despite defense arguments contesting the lack of physical evidence tying Ritter to the crime, prosecutors presented compelling testimonies and evidence, including police interviews and text exchanges between Ritter and Doe. Witnesses recounted encounters with Ritter before and after Doe’s death, with some describing his suspicious behavior and attempts to conceal his involvement. Andrew Manns, a DOJ trial attorney from the Civil Rights Division, argued that Ritter lured Doe to that secluded area in the country on August 4, 2019, and planned an easy escape route after the killing.
During the trial, prosecutors presented police interviews where Ritter claimed he hadn’t seen Doe on the day she died. However, body camera footage from a traffic stop of Doe revealed Ritter’s distinctive left wrist tattoo on a person in the passenger seat hours before police discovered Doe’s body with three gunshot wounds to the head.
Defense attorney Lindsey Vann argued that there was no physical evidence linking Ritter to the crime. She pointed out that state law enforcement didn’t process a gunshot residue test that Ritter willingly took, emphasizing that their intimate relationship and frequent car rides made it unsurprising for Ritter to have been with Doe.
“This case stands as a testament to our committed effort to fight violence that is targeted against those who may identify as a member of the opposite sex, for their sexual orientation or for any other protected characteristics,”
An ex-girlfriend of Ritter’s uncle testified that she saw Ritter acting strangely and seeking a ride back into town on the afternoon of the murder, near the area where Doe’s body was found. Doe’s close friends testified that she had begun her social transition shortly after high school, openly discussing her experiences and romantic relationships, including with Ritter, whom she met during his visits from New York.
Text exchanges between Ritter and Doe were presented, revealing Ritter’s attempts to dispel gossip about their relationship before Doe’s death. Ritter monitored the investigation while giving vague responses to questions from Delasia Green, his main girlfriend at the time.
Prosecutors argued that Ritter sought to conceal his connection with Doe, reminding her to delete their communications from her phone and removing hundreds of texts sent in the month before her death. Witnesses testified to other suspicious behavior by Ritter, including riding away in a silver car similar to one Doe drove, returning later wearing different clothes, and disposing of items in a fire barrel.
Amid rumors implicating him in Doe’s death, Ritter exhibited uncharacteristic behavior, appearing dirty and smelly when visiting Green, who later questioned him about the murder. Ritter monitored developments from New York, exchanging messages with a friend about the investigation’s progress, indicating concern over potential informants. Another individual, Xavier Pinckney, faces charges of obstructing justice for allegedly providing false statements to investigators.
The trial underscored the pervasive violence faced by transgender individuals and the significance of holding perpetrators accountable for hate crimes targeting gender identity. The Department of Justice emphasized the importance of combating violence against marginalized communities and seeking justice for victims like Dime Doe.
Ritter’s conviction marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for transgender individuals and sends a powerful message against hate crimes based on gender identity. As sentencing awaits, this trial serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for equality and protection for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
