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by GoPride.com News Staff

Chicago, IL — Chicago's LGBT community is reacting to news that a transgender woman was found shot and killed in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood Monday morning. 

"Though we do not have all the details, this news is extremely disturbing, especially as severe violence against transgender women is all too common," Center on Halsted CEO Modesto Tico Valle said in a press release. 

Chicago police did not identify the victim, who was found in an alley on the 4500 block of West Jackson on Monday at 3:52 a.m. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the forehead. The Windy City Times identifies the 23-year-old victim as Paige Clay. 

As a founding member of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), Center on Halsted is working with the organization to offer assistance with efforts to support the LGBT community during this time. 

"Transgender women face some of the highest rates of violence and abuse in our nation. This is the third reported murder of a transgender woman in the U.S. in April alone," Valle said. 

NCAVP's most recent report documents 27 anti-LGBTQH murders in 2010, the second highest yearly total ever recorded by the coalition. Transgender women made up 44% of those murders, while representing only 11% of total survivors and victims.

Center on Halsted and NCAVP encourages anyone who has experienced violence to contact a local anti-violence program for support and to document this violence. In Chicago call Center on Halsted's 24-hour crisis line at 773.871.CARE (2273).

"We must work together to create more safety in our world for all people, especially those most targeted," concluded Valle.

Police confirm there have been no arrests as of Tuesday afternoon and Area North Detectives continue to investigate. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police. 

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