Slaying of Transvestite:
Cops Continue Probe of April Shooting
By Rafael A. Olmeda N Y Daily News Staff Writer
Contributed by Sharon Marie
New York City
Regina Haskins lived quietly in a Bronx apartment building, attracting
little attention and making only a few acquaintances. Now police are
trying to figure out who killed him. Haskins, a transvestite who performed
in Manhattan nightclubs and worked as a hairdresser by day, was found dead
in his Soundview apartment early on the morning of April 4.
He had been
shot at least twice, once in the neck and once in the head. A third wound
on his leg may also have been a gunshot, police said.
"He used to live in
Manhattan," said 43rd Precinct Detective Gil Ramirez, who is investigating
the case. "All his friends are In Manhattan." Most people didn't even know
Haskins was a man. "She lived as a woman," said "Gigi," who described
herself as a family member and has stayed in touch with Ramirez on the
case.
"She would talk to men who didn't know who she was. She never went
as far as a kiss, but if a man grabbed her hand, she wouldn't necessarily
pull away." Gigi said she and Haskins grew up in Norfolk, Va. "She Knew
what she was going to be, and gradually came into it," Gigi said. "She
started calling herself Regina when she was 14."
Gigi said Haskins stopped
using his male name and wouldn't acknowledge it. His name was legally changed to
Regina. Haskins wanted to perform professionally and participated in
several transvestite pageants in Virginia and other parts of the country.
He also performed in London. Five years ago, Haskins came to New York to
pursue a professional performing career.
"She also wanted to be a
professional makeup artist and hair stylist," Gigi said. Haskins was last
seen getting into a cab after performing at The Web, a Manhattan dance
club. "He got home at 4:45. a.m., and at 5:45, we got the first 911 call,"
Ramirez said.
Neighbors told cops they heard an argument and gunshots.
When police arrived at the Elder Ave. apartment, they saw blood seeping
under the front door. They opened the door to find Haskins' body sprawled
nearby. Ramirez said there were signs of a struggle, and there was
evidence Haskins knew his killer.
"After he was shot the first time, in
the neck, he fell to the floor," Rarnirez said. "He pleaded with the
killer not to shoot."
Witnesses told police they saw a man leaving the
scene, but nothing is known about him, Ramirez said. "'They took away
caring person, my best friend; my sister," Gigi said. "I'd give my life to
get her back, and I would give anything if someone would turn her killer
in."
Police are asking anyone with information to call the 43rd Precinct
at (718)542-5535 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS.
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