Koko Da Doll finest often known as the star of the documentary named Kokomo Metropolis has died. On Tuesday, she was fatally shot in Atlanta. On the time of her passing, she was solely 35 years outdated.
In line with a report by the Atlanta Police Division, Koko was discovered with a gunshot wound in Southwest Atlanta shortly earlier than 11 p.m. on Tuesday. The Kokomo Metropolis star was pronounced useless on the scene. Proceed studying additional to know extra particulars concerning the tragic loss of life of Koko Da Doll.
Koko Da Doll will get killed in Atlanta
Koko Da Doll whose actual title was Rasheeda Williams was a outstanding transgender lady who was killed in Atlanta on Tuesday. She handed away on the age of 35. She was famous for starring within the award-winning documentary referred to as Kokomo Metropolis. The film premiered on the Sundance Movie Pageant earlier this 12 months in January.
Grammy-nominated producer, singer, and songwriter D. Smith donned the director’s hat for the film and it additionally marked his directorial debut. The documentary Kokomo Metropolis revolves across the lives of 4 Black trans intercourse staff residing in Atlanta and New York Metropolis — Koko, Daniella Carter, Liyah Mitchell, and Dominique Silver.
It reveals a practical depiction of their lives as they face the dichotomy between the Black group and themselves, in addition to the persistent menace of violence they face every day.
After the premiere of the film on the Sundance Movie Pageant, Koko who was additionally a rapper supplied a token of due to Smith and affiliate producer Dustin Lohman for giving her the golden alternative to share her aspect of the story. Then, she used her Instagram web page and wrote, “I would be the purpose there’s extra alternatives and doorways opening for transgender ladies. What you’ve performed right here for me goes to save lots of a whole lot of lives.”
In a press launch issued after the passing of Koko, the Atlanta Police Division talked about that it’s “investigating three violent crimes involving transgender girls this 12 months. Whereas these particular person incidents are unrelated, we’re very conscious of the epidemic-level violence in opposition to Black and brown transgender girls in America.”
Tributes pour in for Koko Da Doll
In a press release shared on her Instagram web page, Smith mentioned, “On Tuesday night time, Rasheeda Williams was shot and killed in Atlanta. Rasheeda, aka Koko Da Doll, was the most recent sufferer of violence in opposition to Black transgender girls. I created ‘Kokomo Metropolis’ as a result of I needed to point out the enjoyable, humanized, pure aspect of Black trans girls. I needed to create photos that didn’t present the trauma or the statistics of homicide of Transgender lives.”
She added, “I needed to create one thing recent and galvanizing. I did that. We did that! However right here we’re once more. It’s extraordinarily tough to course of Koko’s passing, however as a group we’re extra inspired now than ever to encourage the world along with her story. To indicate how stunning and lively she was. She’s going to encourage generations to return and can by no means be forgotten.”
Carter took to Instagram and wrote, “By no means thought I’d lose you, however right here I’m standing alone with out you by my aspect. We’re sisters for all times we promised, however now you’re gone I don’t know what to do with out you. I’m going loopy, I’m attempting to carry on to maintain sturdy, nevertheless it simply doesn’t really feel proper I’m ready right here my arms vast open, tears working down my face, prepared so that you can return even when it takes eternally my sister. I’ll really miss you sis.”
Silver additionally paid a heartfelt tribute to Rasheeda on the social media platform Instagram by writing, “My sister you’re gone however you’ll by no means be forgotten! I’m struggling proper now to know the truth that we simply spoke and now you aren’t right here by my aspect! We are going to get justice for you and please shield Black trans girls in any respect price!”
Mitchell posted a sequence of messages on his Instagram Tales. In one of many put up, she penned, “I’m nonetheless in disbelief. U deserved extra. I’m sry u had been born in a hateful world that didn’t perceive you.” In one other, she used the hashtag “#Justice4Koko.”
Following Koko’s demise, Doran, the producer of the film Kokomo Metropolis additionally put out an emotional message on Fb. “I’m completely grief stricken over the lack of our great Koko Da Doll. To know Koko, was to like Koko. She was the sweetest, kindest and gentlest soul. This tragedy is simply insufferable to course of,” he wrote alongside a video of KoKo Da Doll posing on the crimson carpet earlier than the movie’s Sundance premiere.
Doran additional added, “Koko was working so arduous to get out. She is sensible within the movie and if you see it, you’ll fall in love along with her simply as all of us have. However she had additionally found her present for music. She was making wonderful music, a lot in order that @lenawaithe even put one in every of her songs on her present. Koko had been by way of a lot and was doing the work and was getting out. To go from starring in a movie at Sundance to this inside 4 months is past phrases.”
The Sundance Movie Pageant additionally mourned the lack of Koko on social media. They wrote, “We’re saddened to listen to concerning the loss of life of Rasheeda Williams aka Koko Da Doll. We had been honored to have her on the competition this 12 months with ‘Kokomo Metropolis,’ the place she reminded Black trans girls, ‘We are able to do something, we could be no matter we need to be.’ It’s a tragic loss.”
The forged and crew of the documentary Kokomo Metropolis together with Koko Da Doll, Dominique Silver, government producer Stacy Barthe, writer-director D. Smith, government producer Lena Waithe, Liyah Mitchell, and Daniella Carter marked their presence on the 2023 Sundance Movie Pageant.
We ship our deepest condolences to the shut mates and whole household of Koko Da Doll throughout this tragic time. Might her soul relaxation in peace. Don’t overlook to remain tuned with us for the most recent updates from the world of leisure.
