Justice Served for Coko McDonald, Tampa Trans Survivor of Shooting
By Monica Roberts
Justice has been served in Tampa, FL.
Tavares Spencer, the 16-year-old teen who robbed and shot trans woman Coko McDonald back on April 9 and gleefully bragged about on social media, will be spending time in the Florida penal system.
Spencer was tried as an adult and found guilty back in October of attempted first degree murder, robbery with a firearm, attempted second degree murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.
The trial featured testimony from Coko McDonald and a failed attempt by Spencer’s defense attorney to deploy the odious ‘trans panic’ defense.
Our transsister Coko is not only thankfully alive to tell her story, she got the early Christmas present of seeing justice being served.
The judge in this case noted his pattern of recent criminal behavior and the testimony from Tampa PD detectives about his lack of remorse in the shooting. He sentenced Spencer to spend the next 25 years of his young life in jail for letting his transphobia get the best of him.
Editor’s Note: Earlier this year, McDonald took the witness stand to testify against the perpetrator. She explained that she had only met Spencer once before, the two exchanged phone numbers, started texting, and things quickly turned flirtatious.
“I texted him and told him before we go any further with this conversation it’s only right I be honest, I’m transgender,” McDonald said.
Watch Coko McDonald’s testimony here.
Originally posted on TransGriot. Cross-posted with permission.
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