Arrests made in transgender man’s beating at homeless camp

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) – Four people wanted in the fatal beating of a transgender man at a Vermont homeless encampment were arrested in San Diego following a nationwide manhunt.

San Diego police Sgt. Michael Tansey tells The Burlington Free Press that the four suspects wanted on suspicion of second-degree murder in the May 23 attack on Amos Beede were apprehended late Thursday. They were last known to be in Roswell, New Mexico.

Burlington police publicly identified the suspects as Erik Averill, Myia Barber, Allison Gee and Jordan Paul on Thursday afternoon.

Tansey says the group will be held until authorities in Burlington bring charges against them and seek their extradition from California. They have yet to be assigned attorneys who could comment.

Tips provided by Burlington police led San Diego detectives to the suspects, who were found at a park in the city.

Beede died on May 28. Police initially said they were investigating whether Beede’s gender identity contributed to his death, but there was no mention of that Thursday.

Beede’s family posted a statement on the website of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer advocacy group Pride Center of Vermont that said contrary to earlier reports he was not homeless. The statement said Beede’s being transgender was an important part of his life. It said he was a “friend to many” who went to the homeless camp to support others in need.