Orlando Perez, who was 18-years-old when he committed the crime, was sentenced to 35 years for first-degree murder in connection with the death of a 37-year-old woman, Selena Reyes-Hernandez, whom he allegedly killed upon learning that she was transgender.
Who is Orlando Perez?
According to Chicago police, Perez admitted to shooting Selena Reyes-Hernandez in the head and back on May 31, 2020. Perez had gone home with her and became upset upon discovering that she was transgender. After leaving the residence, Perez returned with a gun, leading to the fatal shooting.
Brendan Deenihan, chief of detectives for Chicago police, stated during a press conference that once Perez realized Reyes-Hernandez’s transgender identity, he became very upset, left her home, and later returned in an agitated state.
Video footage from private cameras near Reyes-Hernandez’s residence showed Perez returning to her home with a gun. The case against Perez was strengthened when investigators found photos and videos of the teenager on Reyes-Hernandez’s phone.
Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy, during Perez’s bond hearing, recounted that Perez had become increasingly distraught after initially leaving Reyes-Hernandez’s home. He went back and shot her in the head and back because he kept seeing her face, according to Murphy.
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Selena Reyes-Hernandez’s tragic death is a stark reminder of the violence faced by transgender individuals. National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director David J. Johns noted that Selena is the 17th transgender person known to have been murdered in 2020, emphasizing the need for increased protection and respect for transgender lives.
