A popular Black trans woman featured in a Sundance documentary has been brutally murdered in Atlanta.
Rasheeda Williams, who goes by the name Koko Da Doll, was found dead from a gunshot wound on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW at around 11 p.m. Police confirmed Williams was already deceased when they arrived but have not released any information regarding a motive or a suspect.
Williams documented her journey as a sex worker and artist in the Sundance Film Festival documentary “Kokomo City.” The film won two awards at the festival: the NEXT Audience Award and NEXT Innovator Award. It was later acquired by Cinetic Media and Magnolia Pictures. Williams and four other trans women spoke candidly in the doc about the dangers they faced in their career field.
D. Smith, the director of “Kokomo City,” confirmed Williams’ death in an Instagram post.
“It’s extremely difficult to process Koko’s passing, but as a team, we are more encouraged now than ever to inspire the world with her story,” Smith wrote.
The LGBTQIA+ community is now mourning the loss of two popular Atlanta trans women. Just a week before Williams was gunned down, hair stylist Ashley Burton was found dead outside her apartment. It appears she tried to fight off her attacker before being shot to death. No arrests have been made in her death. Police have not confirmed if they believe the slayings are connected.
