Activists want food delivery man to be charged with hate crime after lethal shooting over 'misgendering' of transgender woman

LGBTQ activists are outraged that a judge released a man charged in the shooting death of a transgender woman after they got into an argument over misgendering.

Maryland police said they were called to the scene of a shooting on Dec. 27 at the English Country Manor condominiums at about 6:30 p.m.

Investigators said that 47-year-old Micheal Delen called them to report that he had shot a person. When they arrived, he surrendered to their custody and they recovered a pistol. They said he also had a valid carry permit.

At that time, they found the victim lying on the ground and identified the 57-year-old victim as transgender activist whose name had been changed to Meghan Riley Lewis.

Lewis was transported to University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, where the activist was declared dead.

Charging documents said the shooting was a result of a fight that was sparked after Delen referred to Lewis as a man while he was making a food delivery.

"Are you waiting for a food delivery, sir?" Delen reportedly said to Lewis.

Police said Lewis was angry Delen using the word "sir" and began yelling at him. Delen tried to drive away, and Lewis followed him on foot. When Delen stopped his car and got out, the argument escalated.

During the altercation, "Delen produced his firearm and fired one round, striking Lewis in the left abdomen," according to police.

Delen was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and a gun charge. A judge later ordered the release of Delen on his own recognizance, which outraged members of the LGBTQ community.

On Wednesday, about a hundred people attended a vigil in remembrance of Lewis.

"What escalated someone to commit a violent act against a trans woman?" said Renee Lau, a housing worker for Maryland who wants police to press hate crime charges against Delen.

"I think it's a scary time for LGBTQ people and particularly trans people in Harford County," said Kurt Doan, the president of Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride.

"If our trans sisters keep getting killed. My question is, who is next?" said Lia Scher.

The Human Rights Campaign said that Lewis was celebrated as an activist for transgender causes.

Here's a local news report about the outrage:

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