A transgender woman is accused of killing a stranger in Chicago after an argument over her gender, with prosecutors saying the stabbing was so forceful that part of the knife broke off inside the victim’s skull.
Kelly Day, 32, was accompanied by her partner and 7-year-old stepson when she allegedly attacked 50-year-old Larry Young, according to the Chicago Tribune. Earlier that day, Day had reportedly been ridiculed by a separate group of people after entering a women’s restroom at a McDonald’s.
Assistant State’s Attorney Sara Grgurovic told a judge during a Saturday hearing at Chicago’s Central Bond Court that Young was not part of the group accused of taunting Day earlier in the day.
Authorities allege Young later approached Day on the street and made remarks about her gender. The comments reportedly triggered a heated exchange, with Day becoming “extremely angry” as her partner attempted to pull her away, Grgurovic said.
Young allegedly pushed Day before leaving the confrontation and walking toward a gas station across the street, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Day, who was assigned male at birth and identifies as a woman, told her wife she did not want “bullies” to escape responsibility for mocking her. She then allegedly followed Young across the street, where the confrontation resumed.
According to prosecutors, surveillance video shows Day standing over Young while holding a knife as he lay on the ground. She allegedly stabbed him 13 times in the head, neck and upper shoulders, the Tribune reported.
Day later called 911 and said she had been hurt while defending herself from a “pervert,” prosecutors said. She allegedly discarded the knife and left the area.
Police later recovered the weapon and found that a section of its blade was missing.
During a subsequent 911 call, Day allegedly gave a different account, saying she had cut her finger while cooking. She was arrested at a city hospital after seeking treatment for the injury, Grgurovic told the court.
After her arrest, Day reportedly told investigators that Young had used an anti-gay slur, made a gesture suggesting a gun and threatened to have someone assault her.
An autopsy determined that Young died from multiple sharp-force injuries. Prosecutors and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said the broken tip of the knife was later found in his skull.
Day faces a first-degree murder charge and remains in custody while awaiting trial. Prosecutors cited the alleged brutality of the attack among the reasons for keeping her detained.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.