A transgender woman was found shot to death Thursday morning in a wooded area in the Oak Ridge area of Orange County.
Investigators did not immediately release much information, but did identify the victim as 30-year-old Ashley Sinclair.
Deputies spent Thursday morning in the woods along Rio Grande Avenue, where the victim was found after a 911 call came from neighbors just before 6 a.m. saying shots were fired in the area of the 1600 block of Nimrod Lane.
A neighbor said they saw a black sedan pull up and then heard four shots fired.
“I look out my window. I see black car here. Then I hear, ‘Boom, boom, boom.’ Four,” said neighbor Ramon.
Deputies searched the woods and knocked on doors to get any information.
“This is an obvious victim of a homicide,” said Jeff Williamson, with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. “They have been out canvassing the area to see if they’ve seen anything.”
The woods sit just next to a mobile home community and several apartment buildings, making it difficult for investigators.
“This is heavily wooded and there is a lot of foot traffic through the area,” Williamson added.
Anyone with information regarding this homicide investigation should CrimeLine at 800-423-TIPS (8477).