S.C. man to be sentenced for killing transgender woman

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSAV) – Daqua Ritter is scheduled be sentenced in federal court for killing a transgender woman for her gender identity, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Ritter is being sentenced following a guilty verdict at his February 2024 trial for the murder of Dime Doe, a transgender woman. After a four-day trial, Ritter was found guilty for on three counts arising from the incident, one hate crime count, one federal firearm count and one obstruction count.

According to the DOJ, evidence presented at trial showed that Ritter was upset that rumors about his sexual relationship with Dime Doe were out in the community. Officials say on Aug. 4, 2019, Ritter lured Doe to a remote area in Allendale, South Carolina, and shot her three times in the head. Ritter then burned the clothes he was wearing during the crime, disposed of the murder weapon, and repeatedly lied to law enforcement.

U.S. District Judge Sherri Lydon presided over the trial and will impose the sentence on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 2:30 p.m. at the Matthew J. Perry, Jr. Federal Courthouse (Courtroom #3) located on 901 Richland St.

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