Police investigating the killing of Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old girl found with fatal stab wounds in a Warrington park on Saturday, said they had not ruled out the possibility it was a transphobic hate crime.
Brianna, who was trans, was found lying wounded in Culcheth Linear Park on Saturday afternoon. Police have arrested two 15-year-olds from the area, on suspicion of murder. Officers have been given a further 30 hours to question the boy and girl, who were taken into custody on Monday.
Cheshire constabulary said on Tuesday the stabbing was being treated as a possible hate crime, alongside other lines of inquiry, but urged the public to “avoid speculation online and be wary of sharing misinformation relating to this case”.
A spokesperson said: “All lines of inquiry are being explored, including whether this was a hate crime.”
The lead investigator, DCS Mike Evans, said earlier in the week that although police believed it was a “targeted attack” there was “no evidence” Brianna’s gender identity had played a part in her killing.
Friends and family plan to gather for a candle-lit vigil on Tuesday evening alongside members and allies of the trans community in Liverpool to pay tribute to Brianna, whom family members described as “strong, fearless, one of a kind”.
A simultaneous vigil will be held in Bristol, followed this week by more than 30 others in cities and towns across the UK, from Aberdeen to Brighton.
Another vigil will be held outside the Department for Education in London on Wednesday evening, organised by Sisters Uncut, a group that campaigns against violence against women. “If you are a young trans person, please know we love you and see you and are grateful for your presence in this world,” they tweeted.
Vigil organisers advised anyone attending to dress warm, stay respectful to others, and wear masks where possible.
A GoFundMe crowdfunding page set up to help Brianna’s family passed £75,000 in donations on Tuesday to help pay for her funeral, which will be “pink and colourful to match her personality”.
Tributes poured in on TikTok, where Brianna had thousands of followers, describing her as a “sweet angel” and a “beautiful girl”.
The LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall paid tribute to the teenager, who was from Birchwood, Warrington, and urged anyone with information to come forward, while Mermaids, a charity providing support and guidance to young trans people, tweeted its helpline, which is open until 9pm every weekday evening, for those affected by Brianna’s murder.
In a statement on Monday her family said: “Brianna was a much-loved daughter, granddaughter, and baby sister. She was a larger-than-life character who would leave a lasting impression on all that met her. Brianna was beautiful, witty and hilarious. Brianna was strong, fearless and one of a kind.
“The loss of her young life has left a massive hole in our family, and we know that the teachers and her friends who were involved in her life will feel the same. We would like to thank everyone for their kind words and support during this extremely difficult time.”
A postmortem examination is taking place and police are still searching for the weapon used in the killing. They have asked anyone who might have been in the park between 1.30pm and 4pm on Saturday to contact them. Evans said: “We would ask people and businesses within the local community to check any CCTV or dashcam footage for anything that may aid our investigation.”
Police remained on the scene on Tuesday, with floral tributes being laid nearby.
Cheshire constabulary said: “Patrols have been stepped up in the local area and officers will remain in the Culcheth area to provide reassurance and address any concerns that residents may have.”
