The mother of Righteous Torrence “TK” Hill, a 35-year-old Black trans man who was reportedly shot and killed in East Point, Georgia on February 28, has spoken out about the circumstances of her son’s death.
On Thursday, GLAAD published an interview with Verna Hill Wilcox, Hill’s mother, who identified her son’s killer as his cousin, 22-year-old Jaylen Hill. Wilcox contended that while Hill allegedly killed TK out of anger, “it was not because he was transgender.”
At the time of the argument that led to his death, TK and his partner, Terri Wilson, had been trying to help stabilize Hill’s life, purchasing him shoes and a uniform to start a new job and allowing him to stay with them part time.
“TK had finally reached a point where it was like, no matter what we do for you, you still have a sense of entitlement, and you’re not showing us the respect and love we’re showing you,” Wilcox told GLAAD.
According to Wilcox, TK and Jaylen had a verbal altercation on February 28. Wilcox said that Jaylen had borrowed TK and Terri’s car for four hours, and “had an attitude” when he came back. That altercation led to Hill allegedly shooting TK three times.
According to GLAAD, Jaylen Hill is the only suspect in the case and is currently a fugitive. Anyone with information about Hill’s whereabouts are encouraged to contact the East Point, Georgia Police Department or the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line.
Some of TK’s loved ones also shared their memories of him with GLAAD, including his partner. Wilson told GLAAD that TK helped her locate and reconnect with her biological family, who were present during TK’s funeral service on March 11.
“He was my friend, my protector, and my biggest cheerleader,” she told GLAAD. “Now that he’s not here anymore, I feel like there’s a reason why he went so hard to find my biological family, so I could have someone here to help me through my time of loneliness and sadness.”
TK was a beloved member of Atlanta’s LGBTQ+ community, and ran the queer and trans-inclusive barbershop Evollusion. Sybastian Smith, organizing director at the National Center for Transgender Equality, delivered the eulogy at TK’s funeral, and told GLAAD that he “made you feel something.”
“Whether you felt loved, protected, listened to, entertained, cared for, or motivated, whatever it was, he made you feel something,” Smith said.
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