Cathalina Christina James, 24, was found shot dead at the Quality Inn and Suites located in the 8300 block of Dix Ellis Trail on Sunday. She makes Jacksonville's third transgender black woman to be murdered in three months.
Her mother spoke to First Coast News and said that her daughter was always the life of the party and had a big and bold personality. She said her daughter loved to travel and loved to dance.
The first transgender woman to be murdered this year in Jacksonville died on Feb. 4. Thirty-six-year-old Celine Walker was found shot and killed inside a room at the Extended Stay America in the Southpoint area.
On June 1, 38-year-old Antash’a English was found with a gunshot wound to the abdomen between two abandoned homes in the 1500 block of Ella Street. She later died at a hospital.
With the death of James, Jacksonville is now responsible for 23 percent of all nationwide transgender murders.