Suspect in transgender murder arraigned on hate crime charges

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – The man charged with murdering a transgendered person last November was arraigned Monday morning on charges of second-degree murder, and murder as a hate crime.

Police say Dwight DeLee, 20, shot and killed Moses Cannon, known by friends and family as Latiesha Green. The victim, 22, was a transgendered person. 

DeLee entered a mandatory not guilty plea; Judge William Walsh set bail in the amount of $450,000

Syracuse Police and the Onondaga County District Attorney’s office believe DeLee's motive for the killing was a dislike for Cannon's sexual orientation.

Because of the hate crime charge, DeLee faces 20 years to life in prison if convicted; a standard murder in the second charges carries a 15-years-to-life sentence.

Suspect in transgender murder charged with hate crime
Friday, April 3rd

Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - For the first time ever, Onondaga County is charging someone with murder -- as a hate crime.

District Attorney William Fitzpatrick announced the indictment of Dwight DeLee for the November shooting death of Moses Cannon, who was living his life as a woman named Teisha.

DeLee is also charged with criminal possession of a weapon and murder in the second.

That standard charge of murder is there in case the jury doesn't feel there is enough evidence to prove it was a hate crime.

It's going to be a precedent-setting case for Onondaga County -- one that members of the American Civil Liberties Union will be watching and listening to very closely.
 
Fitzpatrick says there are several factors that make this a hate crime. He says DeLee and others made comments to Moses Cannon, who went by the name Teisha, about her sexual orientation the night of November 14.

DeLee then allegedly went into a house, got a 22-caliber rifle, came back out and shot Teisha.

“It was clear that his interest was to hit Moses Cannon, and he did. Moses Cannon had no chance; even though 911 was called almost immediately, he died very shortly after that,” says Fitzpatrick.

Teisha's brother Mark drove him to a home on Arthur Street, where police found them.

The ACLU has been following the case -- happy for the charge of hate crime.

“For there to be an acknowledgment that there was hatred involved in the motivation for this crime is very important for the community at large,” says Barrie Gewanter of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

Gewanter says adding the hate crime to the murder charge allows the prosecution to present evidence that it was a bias-motivated crime. It also allows for a harsher sentence, adding five years to the minimum that would be served.

“You should not commit a crime, but you should especially not commit a crime based on perception that someone is different from you. That makes the crime all that more egregious,” says Gewanter.

Because of the hate crime charge, DeLee faces 20 years to life in prison if convicted; a standard murder in the second charges carries a 15-years-to-life sentence.

He is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday morning in Onondaga County court.

No bail for murder suspect; hate crime charge a possibility
November 14, 2008

	Vigil for transgender homicide victim 11/17/08
	When to pursue a hate crime 11/17/08
	Arrest Made in Friday Night Shooting 11/16/08
	One dead in double shooting 11/14/08
	Raw Video of the scene

Syracuse, New York (WSYR-TV) - A Syracuse man charged with murder after shooting two people on Friday night, one fatally, could wind up facing more serious charges.

Police say Dwight DeLee, 20, shot and killed Moses Cannon, known by friends and family as Latiesha Green.  The victim, 22, was a transgendered person.  DeLee was arraigned Monday morning in Syracuse City Court on a charge of second degree murder.  No bail was set and DeLee remains in custody. 

Syracuse Police say they believe DeLee's motive was a dislike for Cannon's sexual orientation.  Now, the Onondaga County District Attorney's office is considering whether it will also charge DeLee with a hate crime.  If convicted on both charges, DeLee would receive a longer prison sentence.  However, Assistant District Attorney Mark Trunfio says it may be difficult to prove hate played a role in the shooting.
 
A friend told Latiesha and her brother Mark Cannon, 18, to stop by a party at 411 Seymour Street on Friday night.  When they pulled up to the building, police say a number of people took issue with the duo because of their sexaulity.

DeLee allegedly walked up to the parked car and began shouting profanities.  Police say he then went inside the house and came back out with a .22-caliber rifle.  DeLee fired a single round through the driver’s side window, according to police.  The bullet grazed Mark Cannon’s arm and hit Latiesha in the chest.

Mark, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, drove to Arthur Street where an ambulance picked the siblings up and took them to University Hospital.  Latiesha was later pronounced dead.  Mark was treated and released.

DeLee fled the party after the shooting.  Police later found him at a home in Liverpool where he was arrested.  Police say DeLee has a history of weapons and drug charges on file.

About 70 people attended a candlelight vigil for Latiesha Green on Arthur Street on Monday night.  Balloons were hung, and mourners lined up to write their goodbyes on a memorial mural.  Latiesha's mother, Roxanne Green, expressed her frustration with the crime.  "Because why would you take his life," she asked, "just because he's gay?"  She then shook her head in disgust.