Zen Black
Age 283 Jan 2022
Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom)
Stabbed
TDoR list ref: tgeu/tdor2022/04-Jan-2022/Zen Black
Zen died at the scene after being stabbed in the street in broad daylight. Barry Donnelly, 36, was restrained by witnesses and arrested shortly after the attack.
Zen was a nonbinary tattoo artist who was originally from Bangor. They had only moved to Downpatrick late the previous year.
The 28-year-old who was stabbed to death in Downpatrick, County Down, on Monday morning has been named locally as [deadname].
Close friends have paid tribute to the talented tattoo artist who was originally from Bangor but moved to Downpatrick late last year. "[They were] a very skilled, humble person," friend and fellow tattoo artist Lou Franklin told BBC News NI.
The death is being treated as murder and one man remains in custody. The suspect, who is in his 30s, was arrested shortly after the attack which took place on Church Street in the town at about 11:00 GMT on Monday.
On Tuesday, police reissued their appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage of the attack. They also said they were aware that video footage of the "brutal incident" had been shared on social media and appealed to the public not to share or view the footage.
Ms Franklin had worked with [deadname] at several tattoo parlours and the pair had been close friends for eight years. "He was a very well known and well-regarded tattoo artist - a skilled sailor and a jack of all trades," she said.
Ms Franklin's partner Damien said [deadname] was like family to them - "one of the most humble, nicest people you could ever meet".
Zen's Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/ZENBLACKIREZUMI.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-59869845
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-59860494
