Transgender activist taxi driver shot dead on New Year’s Day

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A transgender activist was shot and killed on New Year’s Day while driving a taxi in Oklahoma.

The body of Dustin Parker, 25, was found Wednesday morning in the driver’s seat, according to reports. Police said there were several bullet holes in Parker’s driver’s side window.

“It was a pretty gruesome scene, as you can imagine. Several gunshots had been fired,” McAlester Police Capt. Kevin Hearod said.

“Guy is out making a living for his family, doing his job, no different than me and you are doing today,” he said.

Parker was working for Rover Taxi, which was offering free rides on New Year’s Eve to prevent people from driving under the influence.

“Dustin was a steadfast friend, an amazing husband and father and generous to a fault. He loved fiercely, worked tirelessly, and took on life with so much hope and enthusiasm that his presence brightened all of our lives,” Rover Taxi said in a statement.

Parker is believed to be the first transgender person killed in 2020, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The advocacy group said 25 transgender people were killed in the United States in 2019.

Police do not yet know if the killing was motivated by Parker being transgender and are searching for a suspect.

Parker was a prominent member of the gay and transgender community in McAlester, founding the city’s Southeastern Equality group, which provides resources to gay and transgender individuals and their families.

Parker is survived by his wife and four children, two of whom are from the wife’s previous relationship.

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