Carlton Ray Champion Jr., a football player from Texas College of the NAIA, has reportedly been charged with the first-degree murder of a transgender woman according to KTBS.com.
According to police, Champion shot Ty Underwood last month near the college. Her body was found in her car with multiple gunshot wounds.
A report from Tyler Police Officer Don Martin reads…
We have electronic evidence that they were texting back and forth, communicating that they were going to meet up.
During the investigation, officers learned Champion was expecting sexual favors from Underwood that morning and found out she was transgender.
It was probably more of dating relationship and it appeared to be a short duration, this isn’t something that’s been going on for a long time.
Records found by the police indicate the two had been messaging each other through a messaging service and that the relationship was strained when Champion cancelled a meeting earlier that day with Underwood (named Tyra on the messaging service). Underwood then responded that she did not wish to see Champion anymore.
Champion and Underwood had been in communications since January 19—one week before Underwood was found dead. Champion is currently being held on $1 million bond.