Mercer Co. Man Charged In Killing Of Transgender Woman: Officials

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — A Trenton man was arrested in the shooting death of a transgender woman, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said.

Daniel L. Smith, 36, was taken into custody by Mercer County Prosecutor’s Special Investigations Unit late Saturday evening during a traffic stop in Ewing.

Smith is charged with one count of murder and multiple weapons offenses after 23-year-old Shaquil Loftin, a transgender woman was found shot in the face, authorities said.

According to the prosecutor’s office, on Friday, July 30 around 4:40 a.m., Trenton police responded to a report of a shooting at a residence in the first block of Kelsey Avenue.

On arrival, officers found Loftin who was shot in the face. Loftin was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center and pronounced dead a short time later, authorities said.

Authorities said they issued a search warrant; witnesses were interviewed, and area surveillance footage was reviewed.

What led to the attack remains unknown, but authorities said the case is under investigation for potential bias charges as “Loftin is transgender and identified as female.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Dave Petelle 609-989-6406. Tips can also be emailed to mchtftips@mercercounty.org.

Who Was Shaquil Loftin?

A GoFundMe page set up for Loftin’s funeral expenses said Loftin, known as “Shai,” had a “heart of gold” and “loved to dress, smile, and see everyone happy.” Loftin went by Shai Vanderpump on Facebook.

Loftin was also an LGBTQ activist, according to the group Garden State Equality.

“We are devastated to learn that Shai Vanderpump, who many know in Trenton and across NJ as a fierce LGBTQ advocate, was tragically murdered this morning around 4:30 a.m.,” the group said in a Facebook post.

The group said they were in contact with the state’s Bias crime Unit to “bring justice to Shai and her loved ones.”

According to a report released earlier this year by the Attorney General's Office and the New Jersey State Police, bias incidents in Mercer County spiked in 2020. The number of reported incidents went from 42 in 2019, to 140 in 2020, according to data.

Read More Here: Bias Incidents Spiked In Mercer County In 2020: Report

Meanwhile, New Jersey saw a 45 percent increase in bias incidents from the total number reported in 2019. The report said that bias incidents targeting individuals on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation, or targeting trans or gender non-conforming individuals increased 57 percent from 148 in 2019 to 232 in 2020.

Read More Here: NJ Bias Incidents Increased 45 Percent In 2020, AG Says

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.