Questions swirl around murder of local transgendered woman Amber Monroe - Story | WJBK

Fox 2 became aware of Metro Detroit's most recent victim, 20 year-old Amber Monroe, when a well-known LGBT activist tweeted about her murder Saturday afternoon.

"Orange is the New Black" co-star Laverne Cox retweeted "Heart BREAKING news; the 12th Trans Woman of Color to be lynched this year was found this morning in Detroit MI. THis murder is so tragic because she was barely 20 years old; a far cray from 66 years old #KCHaggard who was lynched in California last week."

Fox 2 looked into it, and confirmed Detroit Police are investigating the homicide of 20 year-old Amber Monroe, but say it wasn't a lynching. Instead, it appears Monroe was shot to death. Very few other details were available from police Saturday night.

Monroe was a 20 year-old last seen in the area of 6 Mile and Woodward - a known place in the transgender community.

"A lot of transgendered women go out there and don't have support systems or employment. So they are forced to do whatever they can do to survive," explains transgender rights activist Julisa Abad, who knew Amber personally.

Detroit Police say Monroe was working as a prostitute when she was found shot to death around 5 a.m. Saturday morning in the same area.

Questions swirl around murder of local transgendered woman Amber Monroe - Story | WJBK

See also:

'They target us': latest US transgender murder reveals Detroit's intolerance

LGBT Community Tells Detroit Police: #TransLivesMatter