Number 19: Trans Woman Killed Near Chicago in March | Advocate.com

The victim in a deadly shooting near Chicago in March has been identified as a transgender woman, bringing the total number of trans women reported killed in the U.S. this year to 19. 

In the early morning hours of March 7, Keyshia Blige, a 33-year-old transgender woman, was driving a friend in her car through Aurora, Ill., "when several shots were fired," reports U.K. newspaper The Guardian. 

One shot hit Blige in the shoulder, and though she attempted to drive herself to the hospital, she eventually lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a Jeep, according to a March Chicago Tribune report that identified the victim as "a man" and by her male name. 

Blige was pronounced dead on arrival at an Aurora hospital at 2:58 a.m. March 7, reports the Tribune. A subsequent report in the Tribune did mention that Blige was "transitioning" and had recently begun hormone therapy, though the paper continued to use male pronouns and Blige's given (male) name. 

,,,

In March, Aurora police told the Tribune that the shooting was "not considered random" but declined to release a motive. When contacted by The Guardian, Dan Ferrelli, media relations manager for the Aurora Police Department, said, "It's definitely not a hate crime."

"But we have some theories we are looking into," added Ferrelli.

Number 19: Trans Woman Killed Near Chicago in March | Advocate.com