Kasi Rhea
she/her
August 18, 2025
Biography
Kasi Rhea was a 31-year-old Black trans woman and hairstylist in Lynchburg, Virginia. On August 18, 2025, around 8:58 p.m., first responders answered a call on the 1100 block of Rivermont Avenue and found her in the front yard of a residence with a fatal gunshot wound. Early reports and police statements misgendered and deadnamed her, a painful and common injustice; friends, family, and advocates worked to ensure her identity as a Black trans woman was recognized.
As of initial reporting, authorities had not announced whether the shooting was targeted, and the investigation was ongoing. Community members mourned Kasi’s loss and called attention to the broader crisis of fatal violence facing Black trans women, as well as the importance of dignified, accurate reporting about trans people.
May her memory be a blessing. If you have information that may assist investigators, contact the Lynchburg Police Department or Central Virginia Crime Stoppers.
Notable For
- Being remembered by loved ones and advocates as a Black trans woman and hairstylist whose life was cut short by gun violence in Lynchburg, Virginia.
- Highlighting the ongoing crisis of fatal violence against Black trans women in the United States and the harms caused by misgendering in official and media accounts.
Sources
- Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents, "31 year old Hairstylist and Black Trans Woman Kasí Rhea shot dead in Lynchburg, Virginia," August 2025. https://www.pghlesbian.com/2025/08/31-year-old-hairstylist-and-black-trans-woman-kasi-rhea-shot-dead-in-lynchburg-virginia/
- WDBJ7, "Victim identified in Lynchburg homicide," August 19, 2025. https://www.wdbj7.com/2025/08/19/victim-identified-lynchburg-homicide/
- WSET ABC13, "One found dead with gunshot wound in Lynchburg, police investigating," August 2025. https://wset.com/news/local/police-investigate-after-woman-found-dead-with-gunshot-wound-in-lynchburg-1129-rivermont-avenue-fatal-shooting-august-2025
Editorial History
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