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Death of Shamain McLam A Story of Identity, Deception, and Violence
NETFLIX &CHILL
The night started with promise — a “Netflix and chill” encounter arranged through an online dating site. It ended in violence, leaving a young life lost and a family shattered. Shamain Jazelle McLam, a 27-year-old Black transgender woman from Gulfport, Mississippi, was killed that night by 22-year-old Makari Gasaway. This is a story of identity, betrayal, and the tragic consequences of ignorance and rage.
An Independent Queen
Shamain was renowned not only for her beauty but also for being a lively individual who lived according to her own rules. She was recognized as unique from her earliest years in Gulfport. Her name was originally Brusson McLam, but as she matured, the world came to know her as Shamain Jazelle Marie. She was born on a warm May day in 1995.
Shamain exuded confidence as bright as the colorful cosmetics she loved to wear, and she carried herself like queen everywhere she went. She overcame several obstacles to obtain her license since she wanted to work as a traveling certified nursing assistant (CNA). She was characterized by friends as a free spirit who would dance in the streets without apology and wear her crown — visible or not — like a queen without ever adjusting it for anyone else’s comfort .
“𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯,” 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭, “𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓪 𝓭𝓪𝓶𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓹𝓮𝓸𝓹𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽.”
Unspoken Secrets and Online Connections
Makari Gasaway and Shamain connected via a dating app. He was 22 years old, anxious to connect, and thrilled to see Shamain’s pictures. She appeared to be everything Makari desired in her selfies: attractive, entertaining, and curious. The fact that Shamain was transsexual was something he was unaware of, or maybe didn’t fully comprehend.
