Investigators are trying to find a motive in a fatal shooting that claimed the life of D.C. woman.
Police identified the victim as 28-year-old Dream Johnson. Johnson was a trans woman, and police are working to find a motive.
The shooting happened along Benning Road Northeast early July 5, hours after another deadly shooting.
Johnson’s loved ones honored her in a candlelight vigil Saturday.
The Anacostia River Trail was lit up to highlight a life gone too soon.Soulful hymns comforted those who knew and loved Johnson, like her aunt, Angie Terrell .
“We stayed together, we played together, we kind of grew up together, and I knew they were going to be them, just growing up with them, they were going to be this outspoken, just a vibrant individual,” Terrell said.
Johnson’s brother, Dominic Jenkins, said he’s still grappling with the fact that they can no longer make memories together.
“I thought it was a joke,” he said. “[…] It really hurt me to see my mother crying, I ain’t never seen my mother break down like that.”
As investigators work to find the people responsible, those in the community said they, along with the family, want to shine a light on the violence that many inside the LGBTQ community face.
“It’s not right to take someone’s life if in fact this is found to be a hate crime,” said Earline Budd with HIPS.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police. D.C. police are offering a $25,000 reward for anyone with information about the case.
“For us to have peace, we have to figure out who did it and bring them to justice,” Terrell said. “We have to. We have to so we can live and bring awareness to other instances that are happening like this.”