Update – January 9th, 2017 – A GoFund Me page has been set up by Sioux Falls #Two-Spirit and Allies to assist Ms. Wounded Arrow’s family with funeral and burial expenses.
Update – Sunday, January 8, 2017: A representative from the Sioux Falls Two-Spirit and Allies notified the Two-Spirit Journal, “KSFY news just reported: Sioux Falls Police Lt. Michael Colwill said 25-year-old Joshua Rayvon LeClaire is currently being held as a parole absconder and for narcotics charges. He said additional charges are pending and will be filed early next week. Lt. Colwill said more information will be provided in Monday’s police briefing.”
(Sioux Falls, SD) – The Two-Spirit community of Sioux Falls mourns the loss of Jamie Wounded Arrow, a 28 year old Lakota Two-Spirit transwoman from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
According to a representative of Sioux Falls Two-Spirit and Allies, the local Two-Spirit group who told the Two-Spirit Journal, “Ms. Wounded Arrow hadn’t been in Sioux Falls long; however, she was really proud of her sobriety and her work advocating for the transgender community in her own ways on behalf of the Sioux Falls Two Spirit and Allies. She will be missed.”
“Police were called to Ms. Wounded Arrow’s apartment near 8th Street and N Cleveland avenue in Sioux Falls, SD on Friday night after a neighbor reported a strong odor coming from the apartment.
Sioux Falls police say evidence inside the apartment reveals Ms. Wounded Arrow’s death appears to be a homicide,” reported by KSFY.
With this loss, Ms. Wounded Arrow’s death is 2017’s first reported Two-Spirit homicide on Turtle Island.
Reported by Mic.com, “Ms. Wounded Arrow’s death is 2017’s second reported homicide of a transgender woman, just three days after the death of Mississippi’s Mesha Caldwell.”
Police planned to release more information about Ms. Wounded Arrow’s death at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the department’s regular weekday media briefing as reported by South Dakota’s Argus Leader.
As this story is still an active investigation, the TwoSpiritJournal will provide updates as more information is made available.