Man who murdered transgender woman at Woodward Inn sentenced to 17-30 years

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (FOX 2) - A man who shot and killed a transgender woman at a hotel on Woodward Avenue in Highland Park in 2023 learned his prison sentence Friday.

Carlos Lamar Scotland, who was 17 when he murdered 34-year-old Ashia Davis on June 1, 2023, will spend 17-30 years in prison, which was the sentencing guidelines after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and felony firearm.

Ashia Davis' murder

What we know:

Davis was shot in the head inside a room at the Woodward Inn on Woodward near 7 Mile. 

Scotland, now 19, fled the scene after shooting Davis in the head. 

While delivering a victim impact statement during sentencing, Julisa Abad, a friend of Davis, recalled the night she learned that she was murdered. Abad said she went to the Woodward Inn after the crime.

"Most people's memories of their loved ones are good memories. The last memory that I have is seeing my friend on the floor outside of the hotel corner room with black screaming all over the floor," she said.

Scotland was arrested on March 12, 2024, after an investigation led police to him.

He was charged with first-degree murder, felony firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, and resisting and obstructing police.

What we don't know:

A clear motive for the crime was never provided.

"Only two people were in that room that night and will ever know the true events of what happened," Abad said. "What we will know is that Ashia Davis was shot execution style in the back of the head and left for dead."

Big picture view:

During her victim impact statement, Abad noted how transgender women, especially those of color, are often victims of violence. She also pointed out how Davis was killed on the first day of Pride Month.

"The sad reality is, particularly in the Black and brown community, men that are enamored with transwomen cannot be themselves and have to resort to loving us in private and killing us in public," she said. 

According to the Human Rights Campaign, at least 32 transgender and gender-expansive people, defined as those who do not follow traditional gender roles but do not align with one gender, were murdered in 2024. The year Davis was killed, that number was 35, according to the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund.

Kam Towns, a prosecutor with the Fair Michigan Justice Project, pointed out the impact that murders of transgender people like Davis and others have on the community.

"I do want the court to understand how senseless murders like that in the transgender community just adds to the fear that people already feel," Towns said during sentencing.

Watch FOX 2 News Live