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# Non-binary person killed in Pennsylvania
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/non-binary-person-killed-in-pennsylvania/
- Published: 2021-05-14T17:30:50.000Z
- Updated: 2021-05-14T17:30:50.000Z
- Description: Whispering Wind Bear Spirit, an Indigenous non-binary person, was shot in Pennsylvania on May 3.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Queer Corner, Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQ, Non-binary, Pennsylvania, Trans, US

![](https://www.gscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/WhisperingWindBearSpirit-600-400.jpg)

Photo: Human Rights Campaign

**Whispering Wind Bear Spirit**, an Indigenous non-binary person, is the 23rd known trans/gender-diverse person to have been killed in the **US** this year after they were shot in **York, Pennsylvania** on **May 3**. According to *[Advocate](https://www.advocate.com/crime/2021/5/11/nonbinary-indigenous-person-killed-during-robbery-pennsylvania?ref=scenemag.co.uk)*, Bear Spirit, who described themselves as *“Shawnee by birth and Potawatomi by relations”,* was shot during a break-in and robbery attempt while staying with a friend.

Charges have been filed against 19-year-old Oscar Cook, but police have said there are at least two other known suspects. Their death is being investigated as a homicide but police have not yet released further details. Bear Spirit was killed only one day before **Sophie Vasquez**, 36, and **Danny Henson**, 31, who were both trans women of colour.

[![](https://www.gscene.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/toricoope600.png)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)

Tori Cooper

Following Bear Spirit’s death, **Tori Cooper,** the **Human Rights Campaign’s** director of community engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative, [said](https://www.hrc.org/news/hrc-mourns-whispering-wind-bear-spirit-indigenous-non-binary-person-killed-in-pennsylvania?ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“We continue to receive reports of transgender and non-binary people who have been killed in the last few weeks. This violence is heartbreaking and unacceptable. Our hearts go out to everyone in Whispering Wind Bear Spirit’s community.”*

She concluded: *“Everyone must speak up in support of trans and non-binary lives and take action to help bring this violence to an end.”*