Prosecutor claims Michigan pastor waited an hour to call 911 after shooting transgender woman
Special prosecutor claims defendant has a history of being aggressive toward transgender sex workers
A Michigan man accused of fatally shooting a transgender woman allegedly waited more than an hour after the shooting before he called 911.
Albert Weathers, of Sterling Heights, appeared in 36th District Court on Wednesday for a bond hearing. He has been charged with open murder and the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony for allegedly killing 36-year-old Kelly Stough of Detroit following an altercation between the two.
Stough’s body was found in Detroit’s Palmer Park neighborhood around 6 a.m. on Dec. 8.
ABC affiliate WXYZ previously reported that Weathers, the pastor of Logo’s Church in Detroit, allegedly fled the scene, clocked into his job at the Great Lakes Water Authority, and called police an hour after the shooting to say he had shot someone after they tried to rob him.
According to Fox 2 Detroit, special prosecutor Jaimie Powell Horowitz, of the pro-LGBTQ Fair Michigan Justice Project, is pointing to a 911 call from a bystander and surveillance video showing the aftermath of the shooting to show Weathers faced no threat in arguing that his bond should not be reduced.
“They threw her out, the driver got out and snatched something out of her hand,” the caller told the 911 operator. “I saw her; she was still breathing.”
Weathers’ defense attorney, David Cripps, claims his client was simply trying to defend himself from being assaulted by Stough.
“This is a man who’s acting out of concern that he was going to be assaulted with a dangerous weapon himself,” Cripps said. “[He] was trying to confront that person. A person who threatened to flatten tires and smash out the window.”
But Horowitz says surveillance video contradicts that claim.
“What you can see from the video is she exits the car, there’s no struggle,” said Horowitz. “He goes around back and takes something from her. That’s what the 911 caller says.”
Horowitz said Weathers told police he was surprised when he learned Stough had a man’s voice after inviting her into his car. But she claims that Weathers has a history of dating and being aggressive with transgender sex workers, one of whom is set to testify against him at trial.
“Kelly was a victim in this case,” Horowitz said. “The defendant threw her out like trash and left her to die.”
In the end, Judge Michael Wagner denied Weathers’ request for a lower bond. Because he has failed to post bond, he currently remains in jail until his next court appearance, which is scheduled for Feb. 1.
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
You must be logged in to post a comment.