Amos Beede, 38, was a homeless transgender man residing (if, in fact, a homeless man can be said to reside anywhere) in Vermont. Amos was found on the ground near a homeless encampment, unconscious, on May 23.
Beede suffered head trauma, including facial fractures, multiple blunt force injuries to his face and head and a number of broke ribs, police said. He had been diagnosed with bleeding on the brain known as a subdural hematoma.
Police initially said Beede would make a recovery since the initial prognosis of his ability to recover was "favorable." But Amos was pronounced dead this morning at the University of Vermont Medical Center.
This attack was directed at Amos. There was more than one perpetrator, the investigation is ongoing, and to share much more could compromise our efforts.
--Lt. Shawn Burke, Burlington Police
In a news release, police identified two persons of interest in the case, Erick Averill, 21, and Myia Barber, 23, both transient residents of Burlington. Police did not say whether they were suspects in the assault.
"The department has not ruled out the victim's transgender status as a possible additional motive, and will seek to determine what role if any it may have played as the investigation continues.
Until the attendant facts are clarified, we will continue to view this homicide as a possible bias incident. We will release further information as it develops.
--Police Chief Brandon del Pozo
Amos is the 14th transperson to die a violent death (murdered or suspicious circumstances) in 2016. Four have been transgender men.