After more than four years of unanswered questions and heartbreak, Arlington, Texas, police have arrested a suspect in the killing of 21-year-old transgender woman Kier Solomon, whose body was found inside a running vehicle in 2021.
On the night of September 30, 2021, authorities responding to a call at a North Arlington apartment complex found Solomon slumped inside her vehicle, the engine running and a door ajar. She was transported to a hospital but later succumbed to her injuries. The case quickly became one of many in the troubling rise of violence targeting trans and queer individuals in the United States.
Now, Arlington Police have charged Arthur Morris Jr., age 25, with murder in Solomon’s death. He was already incarcerated on a seven-year sentence for an unrelated aggravated robbery conviction when investigators moved to charge him in this case.
The Investigation: Digital Footprints and Persistence
Investigators say Solomon had been communicating through a messaging app with someone she planned to meet at the location. That contact matched a pattern seen two weeks earlier, when another person arranged a meeting in the same area that ended in gunfire and robbery. Detectives linked Morris to that earlier incident, identifying him as a person of interest in Solomon’s murder.
In September 2025, a breakthrough occurred. Through a series of search warrants connected to the app account, law enforcement uncovered an email address and phone number traced to Morris. Cell phone records placed him at the scene before, during, and after the killing. The digital trail became the critical evidence that led to his arrest.
Morris is currently being held at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility in Childress, Texas, and will be transferred to Tarrant County for arraignment.
Arlington Police Chief Al Jones praised his detectives for their determination, stating, “What never changes is our commitment to delivering justice for victims of crime and exhausting every possible lead.”
Why This Matters
The arrest represents an important step toward justice for Solomon’s family, her friends, and the broader transgender community. It demonstrates that persistence and digital evidence can bring long-delayed answers, even in cold cases. Yet, it also highlights how slowly justice often moves for victims of anti-trans violence.
Violence against transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people continues to rise across the country. Many of these cases remain unsolved, leaving families and communities without closure. Solomon’s case reminds us of the urgent need for consistent investigation and equitable treatment for all victims, regardless of gender identity.
As Morris faces arraignment, advocates hope this case sends a message that violence against transgender individuals will not be ignored. For now, Kier Solomon’s loved ones can take comfort in knowing that progress has been made, even as the fight for true justice and equality continues.
At TransVitae, we honor Solomon’s memory and reaffirm our commitment to visibility, accountability, and the pursuit of safety for every transgender person.
