A worker at the JBS pork plant in the Butchertown section of Louisville, Kentucky, was found shot to death recently in the plant’s parking lot. The victim was identified by the county coroner as Imanitwitaho Zachee or “Zachee.”
Zachee, a 26-year-old trans woman, immigrated to the United States from Rawanda. After officers found the body after 3 p.m. Friday, an initial statement reported Zachee’s gender as female. However, on Saturday, the coroner’s office allegedly sent a message saying that Zachee’s gender was male, and not female — stirring up controversy amongst the LGBTQ+ community on social media.
Friends wrote on a GoFundMe account started to help with funeral costs that, “Zachee was a loving, respectful, caring, and humble person. She was born in Rwanda and came to the United States in 2019. She was well-loved by her family, friends, and coworkers. She lived her life bravely and authentically as herself.”
According to MSN, Edilberto Lores-Reyes, 58, turned himself in to the Louisville Metro Police Department after the incident. News sources have reported that the gun used in the shooting was located inside of Lores-Reyes’ vehicle when it was parked outside of Metro Corrections.
Local police told reporters that they don’t know what the connection was yet between Lores-Reyes and Zachee but that the shooting was an isolated incident. The business did not lock down after the shooting, but WLKY News has reported that Reyes has been charged with murder and is being held on a $100,000 bond. He is due back in court on Feb. 13.
JBS released a statement following Zachee’s death: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of one of our Louisville team members that took place outside of our facility on Friday afternoon. Our sincere condolences go out to the individual’s family and loved ones. We are assisting police with the ongoing investigation however we can.”
