Savannah Ryan Williams

Savannah Ryan Williams publicly provided. Graphically enhanced for artistic purposes by author.
Preferred NameSavannah Ryan WilliamsCityMinneapolis
Other Names UsedStateMN
Age38Gender IdentityTranswoman
RaceLatinoDate of Death11/29/2023
Click to See Legal Name

Miguel R Stillday


Crime Category: Sex-Related | Weapon Used: Gun | Hate Crime

On November 29th, 2023, in Minneapolis, MN, Savannah was shot to death by a man she was engaged in sex with once he realized she was male.

Report: “Bible [suspect] told investigators that he walked past Williams, who was sitting at a bus shelter on Lake Street.”

He and Savannah walked to an isolated area and after she performed oral sex, Bible shot her at close range. He stated he was suspicious she was male during the encounter. “Bible said he had a 9mm handgun in his pocket and he began to feel “suspicious” of Williams. After the sexual act, he shot her.”

Location: Urban Ventures building in the 3000 block of 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, at about 5:00 a.m.

Personal Information:

Savannah is described as being Cuban and Indigenous.

Savannah had a partner, Courtney Mason, of seven years who said, “She was a very loving, caring person,”

Not much else has been reported about Savannah’s personal life or work.

Amber Muhm, the co-leader of Tea Time (a local support network for trans women), said, “[Savannah] had a big personality and an even bigger heart,” Muhm said. “She’s going to be dearly, dearly missed.”

Savannah Ryan Williams publicly provided. Graphically enhanced for artistic purposes by author.

Additional Information about Savannah:


Murder Suspect:

Damarean Kaylon Bible

25 | Black

Birthdate: 11/08/1998

Motive: Sex-Related

Charged: 2nd degree Murder

Hate Crime: Yes

Current Status: Awaiting Trial

Case ID: 27CR2325882

Arrest Date: 12/01/2023

Currently Held: Hennepin County Jail

Court Appearances scheduled: 3/27 – 4/15 2004

Last Update: 03/26/2024

Arrests.org | Damarean Kaylon Bible arrests from 2019 – 2023

Report: “Video then showed Bible head to the Lake Street light-rail station where he rode a train downtown and exited at the Nicollet/5th Street Station. He walked south to an apartment building at 95 S. 10th St. Investigators went there and showed a photograph of Bible to building management, who identified the suspect. Bible was arrested as he left the apartment.

He called his parents from jail and in one conversation with his dad, Bible admitted to killing someone. Bible in the call said that while he felt sorry and wasn’t God, he “had to do it.”

A search warrant for his apartment turned up a 9mm Polymer80 handgun with no serial number and a .22 caliber rifle. Investigators also recovered shoes and clothing he wore during the murder as seen on surveillance video.

Bible was also charged Tuesday with first-degree aggravated robbery in connection with an attack Nov. 5 on Nicollet Mall. In that case, a victim flagged down police and said Bible pulled a black semiautomatic handgun on him when asked to empty his pockets.”


News Timeline: 12/05/2023 | 12/05/2023 | 12/07/2023 | 12/08/2023 | 12/11/2023 | 12/13/2023

AP. (2023, December 11). LGBTQ activists in Minnesota want prosecutors to treat the killing of a trans woman as a hate crime – Savannah Ryan Williams. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/lgbtq-activists-minnesota-want-prosecutors-treat-killing-trans-woman-h-rcna129043

@CrimeWatchMpls. (2022, July 12). Twitter: Wanted Fugitive: Savannah Ryan Williams. X.Com. https://twitter.com/CrimeWatchMpls/status/1546998799272480769

Dias, C. (2023, December 7). Damarean Kaylon Bible: Minnesota man, 25, fatally shoots trans woman performing oral on him – Savannah Ryan Williams. MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/damarean-kaylon-bible-minnesota-man-25-fatally-shoots-trans-woman-performing-oral-on-him/ar-AA1l8gV1

Gerezgiher, F. (2023, December 7). Family, friends, LGBTQ+ leaders grieve trans woman fatally shot in Minneapolis – Savannah Ryan Williams. MPR News. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/12/07/family-friends-lgbtq-leaders-grieve-trans-woman-fatally-shot-in-minneapolis

HRC. (2023, December 13). HRC Mourns Death of Savannah Ryan Williams, Cuban & Indigenous Transgender Woman with “Big Personality & Even Bigger Heart,” Murdered in November in Minneapolis, MN. Human Rights Campaign. https://www.hrc.org/news/hrc-mourns-death-of-savannah-ryan-williams

Hyatt, K. (2023, December 5). Man charged with murder after transgender woman was shot point-blank near Lake Street – Savannah Ryan Williams. Star Tribune. https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-transgender-woman-killed-lake-street-light-rail-shooting-murder-charge/600324630/

Minnestoa Bookings: Damarean Bible –. (2023). Arrests.Org. https://minnesota.arrests.org/search.php?fname=Damarean&lname=Bible&fpartial=True

Monteil, A. (2023, December 8). Savannah Ryan Williams, a 38-Year-Old Cuban and Native Trans Woman, Killed in Minneapolis. Them. https://www.them.us/story/savannah-ryan-williams-38-year-old-cuban-and-native-trans-woman-killed-in-minneapolis

Padgett, D. (2023, December 7). Man Fatally Shot Transgender Women in the Head Moments After Sex Act, Police Say – Savannah Ryan Williams. Advocate. https://www.advocate.com/crime/transgender-woman-killed-minneapolis

Skluzacek, J. (2023, December 7). Man charged for murder in Minneapolis’ Phillips West neighborhood – Savannah Ryan Williams. ABC 75 KSTP-TV. https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/man-charged-for-murder-in-minneapolis-phillips-west-neighborhood/

WCCO Staff. (2023, December 7). Queer Caucus, Hennepin Co. att’y speak out following trans woman’s shooting death – Savannah Ryan Williams. WCCO News. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/damarean-bible-woman-murder-charges-minneapolis-trans-woman-bias-crime/

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.