Transgender Woman Charged in Fatal Chicago Stabbing
Kelly Day faces first-degree murder charges after allegedly stabbing a man 13 times following an argument over gender-related comments.
A transgender woman has been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of a Chicago man on Oct. 7. Kelly Day, 32, allegedly stabbed Larry Young, 50, 13 times near a gas station on the city's South Side after an argument that began when Young allegedly made comments about Day's gender.
Prosecutors stated that surveillance video showed Day stabbing Young multiple times in the head, neck, and shoulders. An autopsy revealed that a portion of the knife blade remained embedded in the victim's skull. Young's death was ruled a homicide by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
According to reports, the altercation occurred after Day had been ridiculed earlier the same day for using a women's restroom at a McDonald's. Prosecutors claim this earlier incident left Day frustrated and contributed to the confrontation with Young, who reportedly approached Day and their wife. Day's wife attempted to intervene, but the argument escalated, with Young allegedly pushing Day before crossing the street toward a gas station. Day then followed, and the stabbing ensued.
Day claimed self-defense, telling investigators that Young used a slur, threatened violence, and made a gesture indicating he had a weapon. Day reportedly called 911 following the stabbing, initially claiming to have sustained an injury while acting in self-defense, and later stated she had been cut while cooking. The knife used in the attack was recovered with a portion of its blade missing.
Chicago police and the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Day on Oct. 7, less than four hours after the incident. During a detention hearing on Saturday, Cook County Judge John Hock ordered Day held in custody pending trial due to the severity of the alleged attack. Day was scheduled to return to court on Tuesday.