MINNEAPOLIS — A 25-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder after fatally shooting a transgender woman in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Damarean Kaylon Bible allegedly killed the victim because she made him feel “suspicious” while performing oral sex, according to charging documents.
It happened on Nov. 29 outside the Urban Ventures building on 4th Avenue South in the 3000 block. Police were called to the scene at around 9 a.m. on a report of a person down in the courtyard area. As per the court documents, Savannah Ryan Williams, 38, was killed by a gunshot to the head. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office noted that Williams, a transgender woman, was born Miguel Reed Stillday.
Witnesses reported hearing a gunshot near the courtyard in front of a residence on 4th Avenue, then saw Bible walking away from the area towards Lake Street. Surveillance footage led investigators to follow Bible from the Lake Street LRT station to a downtown apartment building, where apartment management identified him from a provided photograph.
Initially denying involvement in the shooting, Bible later admitted to authorities that he had seen the video footage gathered by investigators and confessed to shooting the victim. He claimed that she made him feel suspicious during the sexual act, prompting him to shoot her. Police found gunshot residue on her sweatshirt hood, supporting Bible’s admission that he shot her from close range.
Inside Bible’s apartment, police discovered a 9mm Polymer80 handgun with no serial number and a .22 caliber rifle. Bible’s parents were informed of his arrest, with Bible telling his father during a phone call that he “just murdered someone” and that he “had to do it” despite knowing he was not God.
Bible eventually said he walked past Williams, who was in a bus shelter, and Williams asked if he was interested in sex. They walked to the courtyard, and once finished, Bible shot Williams because she was making him feel suspicious.
Bible, who remains in custody, now faces charges of second-degree murder. Bible is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday afternoon and faces up to 40 years in prison. He’s also charged with attempted aggravated robbery from an incident earlier in November.