Suspect in deadly Zebulon armed robbery accused of killing transgender woman

Laura Brache
·2 min read

A national LGBTQ advocacy group has identified a person killed in Zebulon in May as 45-year-old Sasha Mason.

At the time of the incident, Mason, a transgender woman of Latino descent, was identified by the Zebulon Police Department as a man with a different name. The News & Observer published a story about the killing using details in the police report, including Mason’s “dead name.”

A dead name is a term in the LGBTQ community used to refer to the name a transgender person was given at birth before their transition.

The N&O asked Zebulon Police Chief Jacqui Boykin about Mason’s case and requested an interview about the information the department provided to the media. Boykin was not available for an interview in time for publication.

The Human Rights Campaign wrote in a press release that Mason’s death is the 16th confirmed killing of a transgender or gender non-conforming person in the United States so far this year.

“Sasha’s death is yet another tragic incident in an epidemic of fatal violence against transgender people, especially transgender women of color,” said Tori Cooper, Human Rights Campaign director of Community Engagement for the Transgender Justice Initiative, in the release. “Those who wish to do us harm are emboldened by the hostile anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and anti-trans stigma in our current politics and culture. It must end.”

Case details

Zebulon Police officers responded to a shooting call around 2 a.m. May 13 in the 200 block of West Barbee Street. Police found Mason suffering from gunshot wounds in an apartment behind a home, The News & Observer previously reported. They believe the attack was targeted.

Officials initially charged two suspects with conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman.

Ali Tariq K. Wiggins, 30, was arrested May 13 and is in the Wake County Detention Center under $1 million secured bail. Police say Wiggins and Mason knew each other.

Julius Antwan Smith, 33, was arrested two days later. He was later charged with murder on June 22 and remains in custody without bail. He is due in court on July 14.

Officials have not shared a possible motive.

This investigation is ongoing.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • 'The durability is incredible': This No. 1 bestselling Hanes sweatshirt is down to $8 — save up to 65%

    Old-school style for an old-school price? That's a win-win in our book.

  • Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in local qualifier and fails in bid to play in US Open

    Charlie Woods failed to qualify for his first U.S. Open after shooting 9-over 81 on Thursday in a local qualifying event. The 15-year-old son of Tiger Woods tied for 61st among the 74 players who finished the 6,975-yard layout at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club. The top five advanced to regional qualifying.

  • UPDATE 1-US FCC approves T-Mobile deal to buy budget provider Mint Mobile

    The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said on Thursday it will approve the T-Mobile US deal to buy Ka'ena Corp, the owner of budget service provider Mint Mobile, for up to $1.35 billion. The FCC cited T-Mobile's voluntary agreement to implement a 60-day unlocking period for all Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile devices activated on the T-Mobile network before and after the closing. The FCC said the agreement will make it easier for Mint Mobile and Ultra Mobile customers to switch service providers.

  • Explainer-Why was Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction overturned, and what's next?

    Thursday's ruling overturning Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction gives the one-time film mogul a chance at a new trial and calls into question what evidence prosecutors can use in future sex crime cases. But a 4-3 majority of the New York Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, found that the trial judge should not have permitted three other women to testify that Weinstein had assaulted them as well because their allegations were not part of the criminal charges against him. Such testimony about "prior bad acts" is usually barred by New York's so-called Molineux rule, named for a landmark 1901 court case.

  • Cigna to offer Humira rivals with $0 copay at specialty pharmacy

    Cigna plans to make close copies of AbbVie's blockbuster arthritis drug Humira available with no out-of-pocket payment to eligible patients in the U.S. using its specialty pharmacy beginning in June, the health insurer said on Thursday. Cigna said it will stock high- and low-concentration biosimilar versions of Humira from drugmakers including Boehringer Ingelheim, Teva and Alvotech at its Accredo pharmacy.

  • IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney admit they leaned into romance rumours to promote film

    The duo have confessed to playing on rumours that they were romantically involved in order to promote their film Anyone But You, which was released in December last year. "The two things that you have to sell a rom-com are fun and chemistry. Sydney and I have a ton of fun together, and we have a ton of effortless chemistry. That's people wanting what's on the screen off the screen, and sometimes you just have to lean into it a bit - and it worked wonderfully. Sydney is very smart." Sydney, who starred in and produced the film…”

  • Bang & Olufsen Is Selling a Refurbished Version of Its Iconic 1990s CD Player for $55,000

    The price is $48,000 more than the device cost originally, but does include two wireless floor speakers.

  • 2024 NFL Draft power rankings: Top offensive linemen by draft odds

    The 2024 NFL Draft class is loaded with talented offensive linemen. Here's how they stack up based on current NFL draft betting odds.

  • UPDATE 1-US ban on worker noncompetes faces uphill legal battle

    The U.S. Federal Trade Commission's ban on "noncompete" agreements commonly signed by workers is likely vulnerable to legal challenges, experts said, as some courts have grown increasingly skeptical of federal agencies' power to adopt broad rules. About 30 million people, or 20% of U.S. workers, have signed noncompetes, the agency said. Business groups led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, tax services firm Ryan LLC, and a Pennsylvania tree trimming company have already filed three lawsuits claiming that the FTC, which enforces antitrust laws, lacks the power to determine which business practices amount to unfair competition and should be banned.

  • Brighton vs Man City LIVE! Premier League match stream, latest score and updates today after Alvarez goal

    Champions up next in title race

  • UPDATE 1-Health conglomerate Kaiser notifies millions of a data breach

    U.S. health conglomerate Kaiser is notifying millions of its members of a data breach earlier this month, it reported in a notice posted on Thursday. The Kaiser Foundation Health Plan confirmed that 13.4 million residents had their information taken in a data breach, as per a legally required notice filed with the U.S. government on April 12 and reported on Thursday. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, which operates as Kaiser Permanente, is one of the leading U.S. health care providers.

  • Ship comes under attack off coast of Yemen as Houthi rebel campaign appears to gain new speed

    JERUSALEM (AP) — A ship traveling in the Gulf of Aden came under attack Thursday, officials said, the latest assault likely carried out by Yemen's Houthi rebels over Israel's ongoing war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The attack comes after the U.S. military said early Thursday an allied warship shot down a Houthi missile targeting a vessel the day before near the same area. The Houthis claimed that Wednesday assault, which comes after a period of relatively few rebel attacks on shipping in the reg

  • Pro-Palestinian protests spread as hundreds arrested at Emory University, Emerson College and elsewhere across the U.S. Here's what's happening.

    Pro-Palestinian protests and encampments are springing up at numerous colleges, leading to arrests and heightened security concerns. Here’s what's happening.

  • Bombardier boosts order backlog even as global demand for business jets softens

    MONTREAL — Under the wing of a new logo, Bombardier Inc. said it lengthened its order book last quarter even as global demand for business jets idles. The company grew its first-quarter backlog by five per cent year-over-year to US$14.9 billion. Its book-to-bill — the ratio of orders received to deliveries billed, a key indicator of near-term demand for a company's products — jumped to 1.6. The upbeat figures stood in contrast with a year-over-year revenue drop of 12 per cent to US$1.28 billion

  • Dawn Staley has no interest in becoming Charlotte Hornets head coach. She explains why

    Staley’s passion lies in coaching college basketball, but she would still be open to an interview with an NBA team.

  • Prosecutors want a reversal after a Texas woman's voter fraud conviction was overturned

    FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Prosecutors in Texas asked the state's highest criminal appeals court on Thursday to reverse a ruling that overturned a Fort Worth woman's voter fraud conviction and five-year prison term for casting an illegal provisional ballot. Last month, Crystal Mason's illegal voting conviction was overturned by the Second Court of Appeals. Now the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office is asking the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to reverse that ruling. Mason was convicted in

  • Microsoft earnings top estimates as cloud business sees growth

    Microsoft (MSFT) reported third quarter earnings of $2.94 per share. Revenue of $61.9 billion topped estimates of $60.8 billion. The company's cloud business was a standout, with revenue of $35.1 billion versus an estimate of $33.9 billion. Yahoo Finance's Julie Hyman Jared Blikre, and Josh Schafer break down the tech giant's quarterly results. For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Market Domination Overtime. This post was written by Stephanie Mikulich.

  • ‘Somebody to talk to’: Forty years of food and fellowship at Simcoe soup kitchen

    Lunch is served three times a week at a soup kitchen run by the Simcoe chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society from October to April. But things get busy well before noon. Guests filter in hours earlier to grab a coffee, get out of the cold, and get busy chatting. “They come in here at 9:30, 10 o’clock, and there’s a buzz until mealtime,” said Gerard Van Schyndel, who co-ordinates about 50 volunteers who keep the coffee and conversation flowing. The emphasis is on community, said Van Schyndel

  • AvalonBay: Q1 Earnings Snapshot

    ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — AvalonBay Communities Inc. (AVB) on Thursday reported a key measure of profitability in its first quarter. The real estate investment trust, based in Arlington, Virginia, said it had funds from operations of $383.8 million, or $2.70 per share, in the period. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for funds from operations of $2.64 per share.

  • Two goals from McKenna lead Canada to 6-3 win over Sweden at U18 worlds

    VANTAA, Finland — Gavin McKenna scored twice and Canada opened with a 6-3 win over Sweden on Thursday at the world men's under-18 hockey championship. Jett Luchanko had a goal and an assist and Malcolm Spence, Matthew Schaeffer and Carson Wetsch also scored for Canada. Porter Martone added two assists. Carter Geroge made 26 saves to pick up the win. Alexander Zetterberg led Sweden with two goals and an assist. Melvin Fernstrom also scored. Love Harenstam made 20 saves. Canada had a 4-1 lead afte