Damarean Bible sentenced to 367 months for 2023 murder

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty today addressed the sentencing of Damarean Kaylon Bible, 25, who was convicted of second-degree murder for killing Savannah Ryan Williams.

Bible was sentenced to 367 months (30 ½ years) following his conviction by a Hennepin County jury in early August.

“Savannah Ryan Williams should still be here with us,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “This senseless act of violence against a Native and Cuban transgender woman has left a family without a daughter, a partner without their person, and a community without the vibrant light that Savannah uniquely brought to every room she was in. Savannah deserved safety.”

The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office conducted a thorough review in this case to determine if there was proof beyond a reasonable doubt that this murder was motivated by bias. Though the evidence in this case did not fit the legal standard to be charged as a crime of bias, that doesn’t mean that hate wasn’t a factor here. It simply couldn’t be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Savannah’s murder was nevertheless among a growing number of attacks on trans women – particularly trans women of color. These attacks have stirred fear across the community and renewed the HCAO’s commitment to ensure all marginalized peoples are safe.

About 85% of transgender people killed from 2021 to 2022 were people of color, and 83% were women. Violence based on gender identity increased 32% from 2021 to 2022, and that’s an undercount. Transgender people aged 16 and up are four times more likely to be victimized than cisgender people.

“Savannah Ryan Williams was a beloved member of the trans and Two Spirit community, and she should be alive today,” said Minnesota Rep. Leigh Finke (DFL-66A). “Her death is a tragedy for her friends and family, and it serves as a reminder of the epidemic of violence against trans and queer people in this country, and in Minnesota. The data is clear that trans people, especially trans people of color, suffer violence at rates far greater than our cisgender neighbors. The Queer Caucus will continue do everything in our power at the Capitol to solve this crisis, and I thank the County Attorney's Office for sharing this commitment.”

“Savannah should still be alive today,” said Minnesota Rep. Brion Curran (DFL-36B). “Our community continues to mourn this devastating loss. We hope that this sentencing will provide her family with some sense of closure, and thank the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office for its tireless work on this case. As vice-chair of the Minnesota Queer Legislators Caucus and a member of the Public Safety committee, I am deeply committed to fostering a state where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued, and we know there is still more work to do."

According to the complaint:

At approximately 9 a.m. on Nov. 29, 2023, Minneapolis Police responded to a report of someone not breathing on the 3000 block of 4th Ave. S. in Minneapolis. On arrival, officers discovered that the deceased victim, Savannah Ryan Williams, had suffered a fatal gunshot wound.

Witnesses reported hearing a gunshot near the scene shortly before 6 a.m.

Investigators used surveillance video to track the suspect in her death to an apartment building where police identified Damarean Kaylon Bible.

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