Trans suspect claims self-defense in brutal knife killing of Chicago man over alleged slurs

Police have said that a male who identifies as transgender pulled a knife on a man and stabbed him 13 times at a gas station last week in the South Side of Chicago. The trans suspect has claimed that the man taunted him for identifying as a woman. Larry Young, 50, was killed in front of his 7-year-old stepson.

The stabbing was so violent that the tip of the knife broke off in the victim's skull. Kelly Day, 32, has been charged with first-degree murder in the killing but has claimed he acted in self defense. The stabbing occurred place in the 1400 block of East 87th Street was in self-defense, per the Chicago Tribune.

Judge John Hock ruled that Day must remain in custody pending trial in the brutal stabbing. Prosecutors have said that the stabbing may have been heightened because Day had been taunted for using the women's bathroom earlier that day at a McDonald's.

Day said that he does not like "bullies" getting away with mocking him for identifying as a woman, Assistant State Attorney Sara Grgurovic said in court. Young and Day were strangers. Day alleged that Young made comments that made him "extremely angry" and started to fight Young. Day's wife tried to pull her husband away, but he resisted, Grgurovic said in court.

Young pushed Day away then walked across the street to get away from him. Surveillance video shows Day following Young pulling out a knife and stabbing Young 13 times in the neck, head, and upper shoulder. Day later told authorities that he stabbed Young in self-defense, that the victim called him a gay slur, and threatened to have someone beat him and his wife.

A trans activist in Chicago pointed to the political climate instead of directly blaming Day for the stabbing. "I think the climate for trans people in society, globally, is really heightened and violent, and completely in a place where situations like this can go from zero to 100," Isa Noyol, the Director of the Border Butterfly Project said.

Noyol then claimed, "I think it is unfortunate that these situations continue to happen based on this idea that trans people can be dehumanized at any moment." Day called 911 after the stabbing and claimed that he was injured while protecting himself from a "pervert."