In a significant development, Iaeir Robinson, a 27-year-old man, was found guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of Ahsid Hemingway-Powell, a 30-year-old Black transgender woman, in upstate New York in May 2022. Hemingway-Powell, who also went by the name Chanelika Y’Ella Dior Hemingway, was tragically shot in the head in her Albany apartment. The guilty verdict was reached last Thursday, and Robinson now faces 25 years to life in prison for this heinous crime. The sentencing has been scheduled for January 2024.
Robinson’s motive for the murder was reportedly based on his belief that he had contracted HIV from Hemingway-Powell. However, both Robinson and Hemingway-Powell were HIV-positive, and prosecutors emphasized that it is unclear how either of them contracted the virus.
Assistant District Attorney Ariel Fallon, the lead prosecutor in the case, expressed the desire to shift the focus from Robinson’s actions and redirect it toward celebrating the life of Ahsid Hemingway-Powell. She spoke about the significant contributions Hemingway-Powell could have made to the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, highlighting that she had recently graduated from the University at Albany with a degree in biology and had received the 2022 Spellman Academic Achievement Award, which recognizes undergraduate achievements among people of African, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American descent.
Ahsid Hemingway-Powell was one of at least 41 transgender and gender non-conforming people who lost their lives to violence in 2022, as reported by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Unfortunately, many such deaths go unreported or misreported. In 2023, the HRC has already tracked at least 26 transgender and gender non-conforming people who have died due to violence in the U.S., with a significant majority being people of color, particularly Black trans women.
Hemingway-Powell’s tragic murder serves as a painful reminder of the ongoing violence and discrimination faced by transgender individuals, especially transgender people of color. It underscores the urgent need for greater awareness, advocacy, and systemic change to protect and support the transgender community.