Texas College player charged with murder of transgender woman

A football player from NAIA Texas College in Tyler, Texas, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a transgender woman.

According to police, Carlton Champion, Jr. shot Ty Underwood in January. Underwood was found dead in her car with multiple gunshot wounds..

From KTBS:

“We have electronic evidence that they were texting back and forth, communicating that they were going to meet up,” Tyler Police Officer Don Martin said.

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,” Martin said.

According to records found by police, the two were messaging back and forth on a messaging service and the relationship was previously strained when Champion backed out of a meeting with Underwood earlier. (Underwood was listed as Tyra on the messaging service)

Underwood later responded that she didn't want to see Champion any longer and Champion allegedly said, per the Tyler Morning Telegraph, "That's how it is now, I will make it up."

The two had allegedly been communicating since January 19. Underwood was found on January 26. Champion was arrested for a probation violation on January 29 and charged with murder on Monday.

Per KTBS, Champion is being held on $1 million bond and the crime is not classified as a hate crime because of the relationship between the two.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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