An 18-year-old has been charged with murder following a shooting incident in Cincinnati's Evanston neighborhood that left a transgender woman dead. The Hamilton County judge has set the bond for the suspect, Ajani Grimes, at $2 million after his arrest in connection with the June 7 murder of 47-year-old Lauren Schueler. Schueler, identified by friends as transgender and known as Laura, was found with a gunshot wound on the 1500 block of Jonathan Avenue, Fox19 reports.
Cincinnati Police have not yet disclosed what may have led to the fatal encounter or what precisely pointed investigators towards Grimes. Grimes was arrested yesterday, and the case has drawn attention from the LGBT community, with advocates expressing concerns over the nature of the crime. Friends of the victim desire for her death to be investigated as a hate crime, according to Local12.
The investigation into the shooting has been a combined effort by the Cincinnati Police Department’s Homicide Unit and the Fugitive Apprehension Squad. As police continue their investigation, they are urging anyone with information to come forward and contact the Homicide Unit at 513-352-3542, as stated in official communications.
Those who knew Schueler have shared memories of her being passionate about fashion, an animal lover, and an active and generous presence within her community. Further details on what led up to the shooting have yet to be released by investigators, as coverage from WLWT included.
-2.webp?w=160&h=400&fit=crop&crop=edges)
