UPDATED: Transgender Woman Shot in Houston
A fundraiser has been created for Candice Elease Pinky.
UPDATE, Feb. 1: An online crowdfunding page has been created to financially assist a transgender woman who was shot in Houston on Jan. 24.
Dashawn Johnson organized a Facebook Fundraiser on Tuesday, Jan. 29 for his friend, Candice Elease Pinky, who survived the shooting and is now in recovery.
Here’s how Johnson described Pinky’s current condition:
Candice Elease Pinky was the transgender victim of the shooting that occurred on 1/24/2019 in front of a gas station located in Westchase, Southwest, Houston in which she was chased & shot 5 times in attempts to be murdered in cold blood as bystanders just watched her run for her life. As she laid in her own blood fighting for her life, not a single soul came up to her to make sure she was alive or that she was at least conscious. They walked around or left as if nothing happened. If it wasn’t for her own strength & will to survive to continue her life on this Earth & fulfill her purpose that has not yet been met, she wouldn’t be alive today. We as humans have to better come together as a community & protect & love one another no matter what one may identify as sexually. The hate that fills this world is only getting stronger & more lives are being affected by it, especially those of the LGBT community & no one is standing up to gain complete & honest protection & acceptance of the beautiful souls that are a part of this diverse community. How many LGBT souls are going to be lost or damaged before people finally see that we all bleed the same? We are all humans, only humans & we can only do so much during our time on Earth so why waste the few years we have hating & mistreating one another when we could do better & radiate positivity. Ask yourself what you would do if choosing to be who you wanted to be & love who you wanted to love was a direct target to be disrespected, harmed &/or possibly killed. With everything being said, Candice is in need of some assistance getting basic needs such as clothing, food, hygiene & a new cell phone due to hers being damaged during the attack. As a friend of hers, I ask the community, the WORLD even, to please come together with anything you may be able to come up with & help a soul, a beautiful soul, that is in need of love & support at a time she feels nothing but pain & anger. If you are not able to help, don’t stress it, instead say a prayer for not only Candice Elease Pinky but for the world we live in. Healing & change is needed everywhere. It starts today, but only if you allow it.
Over $12,000 has been raised for Pinky so far.
To donate to Pinky, go to Johnson’s page here.
ORIGINAL POST:
A transgender woman was shot outside of a west Houston gas station Thursday, Jan. 24, according to reports.
Monica Roberts, founder and editor of the blog Transgriot, identified the victim as Pinky, 24.
Pinky, who was shot twice at a Chevron gas station near Beltway 8, was taken to a nearby hospital and is in unknown condition. The suspect in the shooting is approximately 5’ 8″ and fled the gas station in a light-colored SUV, which could possibly be a Honda make.
Pinky was repeatedly misgendered by the Houston Chronicle, including a comment stating “initial reports indicated a woman had been shot but the person’s driver’s license states the victim is a 24-year-old man.”
Surveillance footage from the gas station shows Pinky being cornered to the front door of the establishment and then shot at five times. Watch the video obtained by KTRK-TV below.
Anyone with information about the shooting or the suspect should call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
This is a developing story. This post will be updated as additional information becomes available.

Enjoyed this story? For over 30 years, OutSmart has been Houston’s trusted LGBTQ+ media. Support us with a tax-deductible donation through the OutSmart Foundation—every contribution makes a difference.