TYLER — A Texas College football player has been charged with the murder of a transgender woman in Tyler, Texas, last month.
Investigators says Carlton Ray Champion Jr., 21, is charged in the death of Ty Underwood, 24, whom police said Champion was briefly involved with in a romantic relationship.
Underwood was found shot to death inside a wrecked vehicle in the early morning hours of January 26.
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Witnesses told police the vehicle had struck a telephone pole and then gunshots were heard.
During the investigation, officers learned Champion was expecting sexual favors from Underwood that morning and found out she was transgender, reported KYTX-TV.
Police have ruled out the possibility that Underwood’s killing was a hate crime because she and Champion had been in a relationship.
Champion is in the Gregg County jail being held on a one million dollar bond.
