A family is grieving the loss of 25-year-old Kelsey Elem, a beloved trans woman remembered for her compassion and selflessness, after she was fatally shot by her boyfriend, Martino Lewis, 21, during a domestic dispute on April 24.
According to court documents cited by KSDK, a witness reported that the couple had been arguing when the confrontation turned violent.
Lewis allegedly punched Elem in the mouth, causing her to bleed. Fearing for her life, Elem reportedly asked a witness to call 911, warning that Lewis might retrieve her gun. Moments later, while the witness was still on the phone with emergency services, gunshots rang out. Lewis allegedly fled the scene in Elem’s car.
Authorities later charged Lewis with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and domestic assault. He is being held on a $400,000 bond.
Kelsey’s mother shared the depth of her heartbreak and frustration, stating that her daughter had been the provider in the relationship.
“She was trying to do her thing. This was one that she was always supporting, taking care of, helping,” her mother said. “You didn’t have nothing — not a dime… and this is what you did.”
Known for her generosity and kind heart, Kelsey was described by her sister as someone who constantly looked out for others.
“Every time we ride past the homeless, she always gives everybody a dollar,” she recalled. “She makes sure, ‘you hungry?’ She was just one of those type of persons that always looked out for everybody.”
Kelsey Elem’s death adds to the ongoing epidemic of violence against transgender women, particularly Black trans women, in the United States.
Kelsey’s funeral service has been scheduled for May 9, 2025.
