Baltimore police investigate fatal shooting of Sophie Lee

Sophie Lee, a 27-year-old Black transgender woman, was fatally shot in the Charles Village neighborhood of Baltimore on Friday, September 11, 2026. Police responded to a call at approximately 1:16 a.m. in the area of North Calvert Street near East 24th Street, where Lee was found with multiple gunshot wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Friends and community members gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor Lee, who was described as an advocate and a member of several ballroom houses. Iya Damons, CEO of Baltimore Safe Haven, emphasized that Lee was a loved member of the community who deserved to live safely. While the investigation is ongoing, authorities have not yet determined if Lee’s identity was a factor in the shooting. This incident follows the death of another Black transgender woman in Baltimore within the same ten-week period.