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A Tuscaloosa family struggles to come to grips with the loss of their loved one, 18-year-old Cameron Jamal Mikquise Thompson who went by Cam.
On Thursday afternoon, CBS 42 News spoke the victim’s aunt in Tuscaloosa.
“We’re just devastated, like we’re still in shock,” said Tara Maneice. “We cannot believe that this happened you know so quickly, out of nowhere
According to the Tuscaloosa County Violent Crimes Unit, Thompson, who identified as a woman, died after being shot in the 600 block of East 35th Avenue shortly after midnight on Monday. Capt. Jack Kennedy said a minor has been arrested and charged as an adult in her murder. He has been booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail.
We asked Maneice to describe her niece:
“A beautiful smile, very contagious smile,” she noted, “loved fashion and the beauty industry.”
Thompson, who was a transgender woman, had just completed Job Corps training and had a bright future ahead of her.
All these plans she had, she was getting ready to try to go to college, buy a new car, that they have been just wiped away in the blink of an eye, a senseless act,” Maneice added.
The Tuscaloosa County Violent Crimes Unit was called to investigate Thompson’s shooting after her body was discovered near the street in a yard around 1 p.m. on Monday.
Captain Kennedy said the motive appears to be related to comments that Thompson posted on social media regarding the suspect’s sexual orientation.
They were having a personal argument between each other, knew each other, and that seems to be the impetus behind this assault and murder.”
Maneice said the mother believes this was a hate crime based on her daughter’s gender identity. Alabama’s hate law only pertains to crimes motivated by victim’s race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, or physical or mental disability.
At the federal level, hate crime laws include crimes committed based on the victim’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. Kennedy said the suspect in this case will have a hearing to determine if he’s eligible for bond.