Remembering Our Dead

Novaa Ru Watson (EJ Boykin)

Novaa died from his injuries after being found by police in a parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound.

On Monday, June 14, 23-year-old Black trans man EJ Boykin also known as Novaa Watson died in Lynchburg, Virginia from a gunshot wound. From The News & Advance:

"Officers responded to the parking lot outside the Family Dollar on Fort Avenue at about 6 p.m. Monday for reports of a malicious wounding, LPD previously said in a news release. There, they found a person the police department identified as 23-year-old [EJ] Boykin, of Lynchburg, suffering from a gunshot wound. Boykin was taken to Lynchburg General Hospital for treatment of serious injuries and died soon after."

Law enforcement and family describe EJ using male pronouns, but the media is still using his deadname. They claim he never used a different name. Friends disagree. EJ used Novaa Watson on social media.

Torri Chippe said she’s been friends with Boykin, who’s been called “Novaa” or “EJ” by friends, since middle school. “He was loved and like[d] by everyone,” she said in a message. “He was one of those people that was just good vibes and energy.”

EJ was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland but recently lived in Lynchburg. EJ was studying at Morgan State University. It appears EJ was the parent of a young child, who may have been present at the scene of the shooting, but was uninjured. EJ just celebrated his 23rd birthday on June 10. My heart breaks for the child(ren) involved – losing a parent, witnessing a shooting – whether they were the same child or not.

Novaa's Facebook profile is https://www.facebook.com/novaa.ru.5.

https://www.pghlesbian.com/2021/06/23-year-old-black-trans-man-ej-boykin-aka-novaa-watson-dies-from-gunshot-wound/

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2021/06/18/transgender-man-murdered-in-va/

https://planettransgender.com/trans-man-shot-in-lynchburg-virginia/

https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/06/15/lynchburg-police-dont-suspect-monday-homicide-was-hate-crime/

https://web.archive.org/web/20210616080931/https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/local-news/lynchburg-central-virginia-news/update-police-do-not-suspect-hate-crime-in-monday-homicide-in-lynchburg/

https://web.archive.org/web/20210616080835/https://newsadvance.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/lynchburg-police-no-evidence-of-hate-crime-in-homicide-of-transgender-man/article_0c323bda-cdfa-11eb-8b84-c7809ac01749.html

https://www.facebook.com/sue.kerr/posts/10159655220347915

Report added: 16 Jun 2021. Last updated: 12 Nov 2021

Close