Suspect In Transgender Woman's Murder Could Be Charged With Hate Crime

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- Stop the hate. That's the message friends are hoping to spread after a transgender woman was killed in Montgomery County.

Jessica Kartalija has more on how she is being remembered and who police say killed her.

Dozens held a vigil for Zella Ziona this weekend as a man was arrested in connection with her murder.

"He wasn't ashamed to walk in his walk. He knew who he was and he didn't care about who didn't like him," said a mourner.

Ziona's mother is mourning the loss of her youngest child.

"I watched my baby die," her mother said.

At a Germantown park, family and friends remember Zella Ziona, who was born Deondre Smith.

Police believe the transgender woman was targeted. Charging documents say Ziona knew her accused killer, 20-year-old Rico Leblond, and that recent disclosure of their friendship angered and embarrassed him.

"I feel like Diondre and Zella is the same individual, you know what I mean? It's just Zella; it's the person he really wanted to be," said a friend.

Twenty-one-year-old Ziona lived proudly as a transgender woman.

Her cousin says the two were best friends.

"I just want to know why. Why do you take such a beautiful and amazing soul?" she said.

She is one of at least 20 transgender woman killed in the US this year. Her family believes she was targeted.

"I do believe in my heart that this was a hate crime," said her mom.

She suffered gunshot wounds to the head and groin.

"Whether you're transgender, gay, straight, whatever---all lives matter," said her mom.

In Maryland, a crime motivated by gender identity can be the basis for a hate crime. Hate crime charges have not yet been filed or ruled out.

Leblond is appearing in court Monday for a bond hearing.