A Georgia man has been found guilty of felony murder and other charges in connection with the tragic death of Fendi Mon’ezah “Peaches” Armstrong, a Black transgender woman. The incident unfolded in November 2020, at the Knights Inn in Lithonia, near Atlanta, where Armstrong was fatally shot during a dispute over money. The victim, aged 39, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced unresponsive at the scene.
Damon Allen, present in the room at the time of the incident, escaped physical harm. Allen informed law enforcement that Armstrong’s death resulted from a financial disagreement involving two individuals, Deontavious Brewer and Terrel Battle. Terrel Battle, who also identified as a transgender woman and shared a close bond with Armstrong, found their relationship strained when money became a point of contention.
Surveillance footage revealed Deontavious Brewer discharging 11 rounds of ammunition into Armstrong’s room before fleeing the scene alongside Terrel Battle. The subsequent day, Battle’s family member revealed to investigators that Battle and Brewer had confessed to the killing. The events further highlighted the vulnerability of transgender individuals, particularly Black and Latinx women, to violence.
After a trial, Deontavious Brewer, now 24, was convicted of multiple charges, including felony murder, involuntary manslaughter, and aggravated assault. He is set to be sentenced on September 5. Terrel Battle, who admitted guilt last October, was sentenced to 25 years for voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during a felony, with 20 years to be served in prison and the remainder on probation.
The victim, Fendi Mon’ezah Armstrong, hailed from Springfield, Mass., and had recently moved to Georgia, pursuing her aspirations as a motivational health and beauty advisor. Her untimely demise underscored the urgency of addressing violence against transgender individuals, particularly Black trans women. Tori Cooper, director of community engagement for the Human Rights Campaign’s Transgender Justice Initiative, lamented the loss and emphasized the collective responsibility to combat gun violence in communities.
2020 witnessed a record number of violent deaths among transgender individuals, with Black and Latinx women being disproportionately affected. The incident involving Armstrong is yet another grim reminder of the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community and the pressing need for societal change.