Philadelphia police this week were searching for the person or persons who killed Trans man Mar’Quis “MJ” Jackson earlier this month.
Jackson was celebrating his 33rd birthday with friends on Dec. 12, two days before his body was found in the backyard of a Nicetown residence, sources told PGN.
The city’s medical examiner’s office ruled the manner of his death as homicide and the cause of death as blunt-force head trauma.
Philadelphia police released the following narrative of the incident:
“On Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at approximately 4:16 P.M., Philadelphia police responded to the 1800 block of Brunner Street for a male possibly deceased in the backyard. A 33-year-old Black male [Jackson] was located with an apparent injury to the face. The Philadelphia Fire Department’s Medic Unit pronounced the victim [dead] on the scene at 4:23 P.M. He was identified as Marquis Jackson from the 4500 block of North 17th Street. On Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, the Medical Examiner’s Office determined this was a homicide. The scene was held [for investigators], no arrest [has been made] and no weapon [was] recovered. The motive is unknown. The investigation is active and ongoing with the Homicide Detectives Division.”
Asa Khalif, an LGBTQ+ activist, decried the death of yet another member of Philadelphia’s Trans community. Khalif is a member of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office’s LGBTQ+ Liaison Committee. He said the committee is aware of Jackson’s death and working to ensure justice.
“Yet again, the Trans community as a whole — and in particular the Trans community of color — has come under attack,” Khalif told PGN. “This keeps happening, from Nizah Morris on down. Mar’Quis Jackson’s homicide is a reminder that we must continue to fight for justice for our Trans community.”
According to published reports, Jackson was born and raised in South Carolina. Immediately prior to his death, he lived in the Germantown section of the city. He was heavily involved in transgender activism, which included supporting the William Way LGBT Communinty Center and the Transgender Legal Defense Fund among other causes. A family member described him as a vivacious person who was “full of life and love” and “would get the party started anywhere.”
Jackson is believed to be the 38th Trans, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming person to die by violence in the country this year.
That total includes a Trans man and a Trans woman killed in the shooting at Club Q in Colorado along with a Trans woman who was killed in Vallejo, Calif., last month. But the figure may be an undercount, as many cases go unreported.
Jane Roh, a spokesperson for District Attorney Larry Krasner, issued this statement: “I can confirm on behalf of the District Attorney’s Office that our Victim/Witness Services Unit was made aware of Jackson’s homicide almost immediately after it was reported to Philadelphia police, and that our CARES Team has been in contact with his family to provide support and services. In addition, as our office’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee liaison, Kelly Burkhardt is working to ensure that the queer community is appropriately informed of developments in this tragic case. We encourage members of the public who have information that could lead to an arrest and conviction for Mr. Jackson’s murder to contact PPD by calling 911 or 215-686-8477 (TIPS).”
The Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs released the following statement:
“It is with deep sadness that we now mourn the loss of yet another senseless and tragic murder of a member of our LGBTQ family. Mar’Quis was an advocate and activist in Philadelphia’s transgender community.
“His death comes just weeks after the murder of another beloved member of the city’s transgender community, Shahere “Diamond” Jackson-McDonald. These two concurrent deaths mark at least the 34th and 35th murders of transgender people in the United States in 2022 and reflect a crisis that must end.
“It is customary to use the term ‘at least’ when media report on these deaths, as too often stories go unreported or are misreported, as victims are misgendered by the media or law enforcement. As has been consistent in recent years, the majority of these murders occur to transgender people of color, and more specifically Black and Latinx transgender women.
“Let this be clear: Our Office is and will always be committed to ensuring that acts of discrimination, bigotry, and hatred are never tolerated in the city of Philadelphia. We are grieving with you at this time of great sadness, and remain dedicated to achieving justice, equity, and long-lasting change for our Trans and Non-Binary residents.
“Please join our Office in solidarity as we extend our deepest sympathies to Mar’Quis’ loved ones and all members of our LGBTQ community who have been impacted by this loss. We are here to connect anyone in need of resources and support, and we will continue to work closely with our partners in the Philadelphia Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office as this developing case unfolds.”