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Police Investigate Death Of Transgender Woman In Philadelphia

By Rahel Solomon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Police are investigating the death of a transgender woman in Philadelphia's Hunting Park neighborhood, who they say was assaulted by a group of males and shot.

Police are being very careful not to call this a hate crime at this time, but they tell CBS 3 Eyewitness News they are investigating that possibility.

"Didn't have a life yet, it sad, it's really sad," said a neighbor.

Neighbors found the news shocking Tuesday, Philadelphia Police now investigating the murder of who friends tell CBS 3 is 22-year-old Kiesha Jenkins.

"It's really sad to have your life taken away so young," said a neighbor.

Police received reports of a shooting around 2:30 a.m. When police arrived, they found Jenkins shot twice in the back.

"The decedent had just gotten out of a vehicle at that location, was assaulted by five or six unidentified males," said Philadelphia Police Captain James Clark.

Police say it is too soon to call this a hate crime, but they are actively investigating that possibility.

"We'll talk to more people, and then we'll get to the bottom of it. When the autopsy results come back, different things, and we'll put everything together and then from that we'll see if it's classified as a hate crime or not," said Capt. Clark.

Eyewitness News is told detectives are going to be canvassing the area and looking for surveillance as they try to identify the five to six people they believe are responsible.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police 215-686-TIPS.

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