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Man charged with voluntary manslaughter in death of transgender woman in Cordova

According to the affidavit, Samuel Ward Jr. admitted shooting the victim after he said they got into a fight over him leaving.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man has been charged with voluntary manslaughter after police said he admitted to shooting and killing a transgender woman during a domestic dispute.

ABC24 has learned the victim was Kitty Monroe, a transgender woman from Memphis.

According to the affidavit, investigators said Samuel Ward Jr. called police just before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 29, 2022, and told them he had shot someone. After getting more information, police said they went to the home in the 1600 block of Oaken Bucket Drive just before 1 a.m. and found the victim shot. She died at the scene.

The report said a witness told police they received a text from the victim, saying a man was at her apartment and wouldn't leave. 

The affidavit said Ward told investigators he and the victim had been in a bedroom fighting about him leaving. The report said Ward said the victim pulled a gun and "ordered him to leave." 

According to the report, Ward said he walked to the top of the stairs and then grabbed for the gun and they struggled. He said they both fell down the stairs and when they landed, Ward told police he pulled out his own gun and shot the victim six to seven times. The affidavit said Ward took off and called police from another location.

Ward Jr. is charged with voluntary manslaughter. Bond was set at $10,000.

Credit: Monroe family
Kitty Monroe (right)
Credit: Shelby County Sheriff's Office
Samuel Ward Jr.

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