38-Year-Old Vt. Transgender Man Dies After Attack

Authorities will "continue to view this homicide as a possible bias incident"

A 38-year-old transgender man died after he was attacked at a homeless encampment in Burlington, Vermont, in what police are calling a possible "bias incident."

Amos Beede, of Milton, suffered facial fractures, a subdural hematoma and several broken ribs in the beating on May 25. Police found him lying on the ground at a homeless encampment in the area of Barge Canal on Pine Street.

Beede was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center for treatment. His initial prognosis was good, but Beede died of his injuries Sunday, according to police.

The office of the state's chief medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine Beede's cause of death.

Detectives are searching for two people of interest — 21-year-old Erick Averill and 23-year-old Myia Barber — in connection with the attack. Both are transient residents of Burlington, authorities said.

Police said they believe the attackers had motives that were "independent" of Beede's gender identity but that his status as a transgender man may have been an "additional motive."

Authorities will "continue to view this homicide as a possible bias incident" as they investigate, police said.

Anyone with information about the assault or the whereabouts of Averill or Barber are asked to call city police or Champlain Valley Crime Stoppers at 802-864-6666.

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