Suspect in murder case used they/them pronouns and wanted to resemble female victim.

Arizona Murder Suspect Uses They/Them Pronouns, Wanted to Look Like Victim

Background

In late April, 29-year-old Lauren Heike was fatally stabbed 15 times while on a hike in Arizona. On May 4, Zion Teasley was arrested for her murder. Teasley, who was recently fired from a sports store for being aggressive towards women, admitted to struggling with his sexual identity during interviews with police.

Details

Investigators showed Teasley a picture of Heike, to which he responded that he recognized her and “wanted to look like her.” He also spoke about growing up as a Christian and struggling with his sexuality, fearing for his soul’s salvation due to his thoughts. However, he denied planning to murder Heike, stating that he is “definitely not the person who plans to kill another person.”

Teasley uses they/them pronouns on his LinkedIn profile and was previously arrested in 2020, spending 16 months in prison.

Transgender Murders

These details come after transgender shooter Audrey Hale killed six people, including three children, at a private Christian school near Nashville. However, experts state that mass casualty shootings perpetrated by someone identifying as trans or nonbinary are rare, and those groups are far more likely to be victims of violence.

Takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the importance of understanding and supporting individuals who struggle with their sexual identity. It also serves as a reminder that violence against any group, including the transgender community, is unacceptable and must be addressed.

• Support individuals who struggle with their sexual identity
• Violence against any group is unacceptable
• Address and prevent violence against the transgender community

Let’s work towards a world where everyone can feel safe and accepted for who they are.