Petherson was not trans himself, but was beaten to death while defending his sister Lorena, who is transgender.
The crime occurred in a square while Lorena was sitting on a bench using the public wi-fi. The suspect rode up to her and threatened to throw his bike on her. When her brother intervened the two argued and Petherson was beaten. Lorena herself escaped unscathed, but Petherson died at the scene.
“He threatened to throw the bike on me and my brother came running. Tell him to show respect, right? When he came over, they started to argue and fight.”
Luiz Carlos da Silva Mariano (18) has been arrested for the killing.