Preferred Name | Koko Da Doll | City | Atlanta | ||
Other Names Used | Koko Williams Rasheeda Williams Hollywood KoKo | State | GA | ||
Age | 35 | Gender Identity | Transwoman | ||
Race | Black | Date of Death | 04/18/2023 |
Crime Category: Sex Work | Weapon Used: Gun
On April 18th, 2023 in Atlanta Georgia, Koko was shot coming out of an apartment complex. A witness says she was in an argument with a man right before she was shot. That man was captured on surveillance camera and was identified by police.
Report: “Atlanta police say they are investigating the killing after being called to the scene of the shooting on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SW. “Upon arrival, officers located a female victim with an apparent gunshot wound. She was not alert, conscious or breathing and pronounced deceased on scene by AFR [Atlanta Fire Rescue Department],” police said in a statement. “Homicide investigators responded to the scene and are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The investigation continues.”
Police released surveillance footage of Koko entering an apartment complex followed by an unnamed man and then leaving on her own afterwards. The man told police she asked him for a charger and they went into the apartment. A few moments later a witness saw Koko having an argument with 17-year-old suspect, Jermarcus Jernigan, identified in surveillance footage nearby in a gas station shortly before the murder. The witness said Koko was crossing the road, still arguing with the man, when shots were fired. She attempted to help Koko but she was already dead.
Koko was the star of a recent documentary titled, Kokomo City, featuring three black trans sex workers and the dangers they face. Kokomo City has been dedicated to Williams following her death. At the 2023 BET Awards, Williams was honored during the In Memoriam part of the program.
The relationship between Koko and the suspect has not been released, nor has there been a motive provided.
NYT: “[Police] In these cases [Including Koko], our investigators have not found any indication the victim was targeted for being transgender or a member of the L.G.B.T.Q.+ community, and these cases do not appear to be random acts of violence.”
Location: 2400 block of Martin Luther King Drive in Southwest Atlanta, GA, at about 10:42 p.m.
Personal Information:
Koko was an aspiring rap artist and had released songs in 2020 and 2022.
Harris Doran, a producer of “Kokomo City,”: “She was the sweetest, kindest and gentlest soul,” he said on Instagram, adding: “Koko was working so hard to get out. She is brilliant in the film and when you see it, you will fall in love with her just as we all have.”
Murder Suspect:
Jermarcus Jernigan
17 | Black
Motive: Unknown
Charged: Murder
Hate Crime: Unknown
Current Status: Awaiting Trial
Last Known Location: Fulton County Jail
Last Public Update: 04/27/2023
Jermarcus was seen on surveillance camera at a gas station prior to being seen by a witness arguing with the victim before shooting her. He turned himself in shortly after.
His mother has gone on the news to argue her son is innocent. She argues he went to the gas station with his girlfriend.
The Fulton County website has been down for technical issues for several months, so no current information about the charges or pending trial are available (03/06/2024).
News Timeline: 04/20/2023 | 04/21/2023 | 04/24/2023 | 04/27/2023 | 04/27/2023
11Alive. (2023a, April 21). Atlanta Police looking for this person in Koko Da Doll murder case | Raw video – Koko Da Doll. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4tx8r4gNjM
11Alive. (2023b, April 26). Atlanta Police need help finding person of interest in killing of Koko Da Doll. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBzmMLc2F6k
11Alive. (2023c, April 27). Teen arrested in killing of Koko Da Doll, Atlanta Police say – Koko Da Doll. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXP6UwW9RrY
11Alive. (2023d, May 2). 0:17 / 3:12 Koko Da Doll killing | Accused suspect’s mom says he’s innocent. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPySaVl2qSw
11Alive. (2023e, May 3). Warrant reveals new details about suspect in Koko Da Doll homicide. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxdLVSl2EKo
Atlanta Police Department. (2023, April 27). UPDATE-Arrest made-Homicide: 2457 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW 231081869 – Koko Da Doll. Atlanta Police Department. https://www.atlantapd.org/Home/Components/News/News/4101/17
Carey, M. (2023, April 20). Trans Woman Featured In Hit Sundance Documentary ‘Kokomo City’ Shot And Killed In Atlanta – Koko Da Doll. Deadline. https://deadline.com/2023/04/rasheeda-williams-koko-da-doll-kokomo-city-documentary-subject-shooting-death-1235333262/
Denny. (2023, June 12). When You Were Here: Rasheeda Williams AKA KoKo Da Doll. Reckon. https://www.mlive.com/reckon/2023/06/when-you-were-here-rasheeda-williams-aka-koko-da-doll.html
Ide, W. (2023, August 6). Kokomo City review – the perilous, gutsy lives of four Black trans sex workers – Koko Da Doll. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/aug/06/kokomo-city-review-the-perilous-gutsy-lives-of-four-black-trans-sex-workers
Koko Da Doll Wikipedia. (2023). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koko_Da_Doll
Levenson, M. (2023, April 21). Koko Da Doll, Star of Film on Transgender Sex Workers, Is Killed in Atlanta. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/21/us/koko-da-doll-shooting-atlanta-kokomo-city.html
Prince, C., & Aaro, D. (2023, April 28). 17-year-old arrested in Atlanta shooting death of trans celebrity – Koko Da Doll. The Atlanta Constitution, A1–A6. https://www.newspapers.com/image/954744407/
Reckless Crime. (2023, December 2). Teenager ARRESTED for KILLING TRANSGENDER INFLUENCER | The Tragic story of Koko Da Doll. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aGtXPuokoY
Todd, J. (2023, April 24). HRC Mourns Koko Da Doll, “Kokomo City” Documentary Star, Killed by Gun Violence in Atlanta. Human Rights Campaign. https://www.hrc.org/news/hrc-mourns-koko-da-doll-kokomo-city-documentary-star-killed-by-gun-violence-in-atlanta
Viral Crimes. (2023, August 19). Transgender Film Star Shot And Killed But Why? | The Koko Da Doll Story. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkOGEx4AAiQ
Images are publicly available through public sources, personal posts, family members and information websites as well as stills from cited videos and news websites. Images are digitally enhanced for artistic purposes. All information is accurate to the best of the author’s knowledge at time of publishing. Updates will be made as needed.