A male who identifies as female allegedly stabbed a 50-year-old Chicago man 13 times and left part of the knife embedded in the victim’s skull. The suspect has claimed the fatal stabbing was self-defense, according to reports. Thirty-two-year-old Kelly Day, a male who identifies as a woman, has been charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 7 killing of Larry Young, The Chicago Tribune reported Sunday.
During a hearing Saturday at Central Bond Court, Judge John Hock approved a request to keep Day in custody pending trial due to the violent nature of the attack, which reportedly took place in front of Day’s 7-year-old stepson. Day was scheduled to return to court Tuesday. According to authorities, the fatal stabbing occurred near a gas station in the 1400 block of East 87th Street on the South Side.
An autopsy determined that Young died of multiple sharp-force injuries, and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled his death a homicide. Part of the knife blade had broken off and remained lodged in Young’s skull, according to reports. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Day standing over the victim with a knife and stabbing him 13 times in the head, neck and upper shoulders.
Prosecutors said the confrontation may have been influenced by an earlier dispute at a McDonald’s restaurant, where Day allegedly faced ridicule for using the women’s restroom. Assistant State’s Attorney Sara Grgurovic told the court that before the stabbing, Day had expressed frustration to his wife about people making fun of him for identifying as female.
Later that day, as Day walked along East 87th Street with his wife and stepson, Young approached him. Young reportedly did not know Day. Grgurovic said Young was calm when he approached and began making comments about Day being a man who presents himself as female.