LANDOVER, Maryland – DeAllen Price, 29, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison, with 12 years suspended, for the murder of Taya Ashton, 20, in her Maryland apartment in July 2021. The Prince George’s State’s Attorney’s Office announced the outcome of the case, revealing that Price pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and use of a firearm in a commission of a crime of violence.
According to reports, Price and Ashton were in a relationship, and he fatally shot her after learning she was transgender. The sentencing means Price will spend the next 48 years in prison for the crime. Assistant State’s Attorney Sherrie Waldrup revealed that Price admitted to learning about Ashton’s trans identity shortly before the fatal shooting.
Waldrup’s account of the events was described as “chilling,” shedding light on the tragedy surrounding Ashton’s untimely death. Following the tragic incident, the Human Rights Campaign spoke out, condemning the violence against black transgender women in the country. Lindsey Clark, Associate Director of the Transgender Justice Initiative, emphasized the urgency for friends, family, community organizers, and allies to take a stand against the stigma and violence faced by all transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.
Ashton’s story highlights the ongoing struggle for the rights and safety of transgender individuals, particularly within communities of color. The tragic loss of her life serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address and combat the violence and discrimination faced by transgender individuals. The sentencing of Price for her murder underscores the gravity of the issue and the consequences of such tragic acts.