Police Arrest Kendrell Lavar Lyles In Homicide Of Transgender Woman & 2 Others
DALLAS, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - Police have arrested a 34-year-old man in the death of Muhlaysia Booker, the transgender woman killed in Dallas last month.
The suspect, Kendrell Lavar Lyles was also connected to two other murders, said Dallas Police Department major Max Geron. He is also a person of interest in the death of Chynal Lindsey, 26. Divers pulled her body from White Rock Lake on June 1.
"During the investigation of two other homicides, detectives realized Lyles drove the same type of car that is believed to have picked up Muhlaysia Booker on May 18, 2019," said Geron. "We don't know the motive for murder at this point."
Booker was a victim of a brutal beating in April. The event was recorded and posted on social media. A mob of men attacked her, while others spewed homophobic pejoratives and slurs at her.
The video of the beating outraged Mayor Rawlings, who took to social media himself. Just over a month after Rawlings comments, Booker was found dead on a street, killed from a gunshot.
"All I do is think about her," said her father Peirre Booker. "At first, I couldn't eat or sleep."
Booker said the arrest of Lyles has brought him some relief, but it won't bring back his child.
"I just never thought in a million days I'd bury one of my kids, I wanted my kids to bury me," he said.
Major Geron said cell phone data placed Lyles at the scene of Muhlaysia's murder.
Her father said he recognized Lyles as someone he'd seen in passing before.
"I may forget your name, but your face. Uh-uh," he said.
