A Texas College football player, Carlton Champion Jr. was arrested for killing his transgender girlfriend, Ty Underwood in January, 2015.
Police believe Champion shot her, right near the college inside his car.
“We have electronic evidence that they were texting back and forth, communicating that they were going to meet up,” Tyler Police Officer Don Martin said.
In the course of the investigation, police discovered that Champion was expecting sex from Underwood before he found out she was transgender.
“It was probably more of dating relationship and it appeared to be a short duration, this isn’t something that’s been going on for a long time,” Martin said.
Champion was arrested for a probation violation and also for a first degree murder charge.
The President of the Longview association of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities is glad Underwood’s killer has been brought to book.
“The transgender community as with the other LGTBQ communities is subjected to violent crimes and it’s important that this was investigated thoroughly and I’m glad someone has been arrested,” c
Champion is currently in jail for a fine of one million dollar. He will eventually be brought back to Smith County for hearing.
The investigation will be transferred to the District Attorney who will then present it to a grand jury.
