A transsexual who filed a lawsuit against the Memphis police after a February beating at the hands of an officer, was found shot to death in North Memphis late Sunday.
Duanna Johnson, 43, was shot in the head and died at the scene. In June, she offered to settle the lawsuit against the city of Memphis and the Memphis Police Department, but the parties could not reach an agreement.
According to online reports, one of Johnson’s attorney’s say the lawsuit will continue as planned.
Johnson was beaten in February in the booking area at 201 Poplar after an arrest on a prostitution charge.
Memphis police officers Bridges McRae and James Swain were fired after the incident, which became public when Johnson’s attorneys released a video of the beating to local media.
The video went viral and the story received national attention.
A loyal reader who hosts a radio show in Memphis, emailed SR.com this morning to say he received a voicemail message from a witness at the scene who stated Johnson was murdered by Memphis police — not three men as had been reported.
He plans to play the message on his radio show later today in Memphis.
Stay tuned for further developments.
Source: KT Alpha Lambda Kappa Alpha Psi, Memphis TN
