A 37-years-old Black trans woman, Ashley Burton, was killed in Atlanta during a domestic dispute on Tuesday, April 11.
Ashley was born in Augusta, South Carolina and relocated to Atlanta to pursue her career as a hairstylist and makeup artist. She’s described as an important force in the industry. She appreciated fashion trends and created stunning art with her hair and nails. Her feeds are filled with examples of her artistry.
Ashley was also an accomplished cook and a singer/pianist. She celebrated her 37th birthday in late March.
Atlanta Police responded to a 911 call at 4:22 a.m. On scene, police said they found Burton’s body in the breezeway of her building at City Park Apartments off Fairburn Road SW, according to FOX Atlanta.
Ashley’s cousin describes her as a courageous fighter who fled her assailant and desperately sought help from her neighbors before she died.
Police describe her death as a domestic incident, suggesting she was shot by an intimate partner. You can contact the Atlanta Police 404–614–6544 or Atlanta Crime Stoppers at 404–577-TIPS(8477) or e-mail the anonymous information using the online form at www.crimestoppersatlanta.org.
“She was a very sweet young lady. She was very full of life really. It was always smiles and laughs with us whenever we work together,” her best friend told FOX 5.
As with many similar cases, Ashley has been misgendered and deadnamed by the media and law enforcement. This creates additional burdens for those who mourn her to have to keep the record accurate. It also delays community notification. There are numerous media guides for reporting on trans and queer stories — no excuse.
There is no information available now on final arrangements.
Ashley Burton is the ninth trans or gender nonconforming person whose violent death has been reported in 2023. She is the fifth Black trans woman, the eighth trans woman, the seventh trans woman of color, the eighth trans person of color, and at age 37, the oldest of the 2023…
