Keri Washington ("Bobo")
Age 491 May 2021
Clearwater, Florida (USA)
Murdered
TDoR list ref: tgeu/1-May-2021/Keri Washington 'Bobo'
Keri was found dead at the back of an apartment building. Police have issued a warrant for Arthur Benjamin Jr. on a charge of first degree murder.
Keri Washington, 49, of Clearwater, Fla., has become the latest victim of the epidemic of violence against transgender women.
Washington was found dead Saturday morning in back of an apartment building in Clearwater, according to local media, many of which misgendered her and used a different spelling of her first name. The reports did not offer other details about her death.
Police have identified a suspect, Arthur Benjamin Jr., also known as Hadeeka Shabazz, and issued a warrant for his arrest on a charge of first-degree murder. He “has an extensive criminal history and was known to the victim,” says a Facebook post from the Clearwater Police Department. The department asks for anyone who knows his whereabouts to call (727) 562-4242.
Little information has surfaced about Washington’s life, but friends have paid tribute to her on social media. Several have said she went by the nickname “Bobo.” “Rest easy Keri Washington aka Bobo we love U,” read one Facebook post. “Bobo was the real deal slay queen,” said another. On Washington’s own Facebook page, she listed her relationship status as “engaged.”
On Tuesday 11th May Arthur Benjamin Jr., 49, AKA Hadeeka Shabazz was arrested for her murder.
CLEARWATER, FL — The Pinellas LGBTQ community is breathing a sigh of relief after Clearwater Police homicide detectives announced the arrest of a man accused in the May 1 slaying of a transgender woman.
Arthur Benjamin Jr., also known as Hadeeka Shabazz, 49, was taken into custody Tuesday morning in unincorporated Pinellas County with the assistance of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
He was interviewed by detectives at Clearwater Police Department headquarters where he confessed to killing Keri Washington, 48, who died of blunt-force trauma to the upper body at the Palmetto Park Apartments. The two had been in a domestic relationship for several years.
Keri's Facebook profile is https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009622926313.
https://planettransgender.com/man-arrested-for-the-murder-of-trans-woman-keri-washington/
https://patch.com/florida/clearwater/accused-killers-arrest-relief-local-transgender-community
https://planettransgender.com/warrant-issued-for-the-murder-of-transgender-woman-keri-washington/
https://www.advocate.com/crime/2021/5/05/black-trans-woman-keri-washington-killed-florida
https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterPolice/posts/3918369468218223
