16 year old unarmed gender-nonconforming teen Nathaniel Potts shot to death in the back – Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents

16 year old unarmed gender-nonconforming teen Nathaniel Potts shot to death in the back – Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents

Via Facebook A 16 year old teen died from gunshot injuries on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 in Raleigh, Illinois. Nathaniel Potts was an unarmed gender nonconforming teenager running away from the shooter during a domestic encounter. The shooter fired two shots, the second of which took Nathaniel’s life. The Crime On the night in question, Nathaniel was in the home of 87-year-old Charles Maloney, the paternal grandfather of the shooter. The younger Maloney claimed he was responding to a break-in to protect his grandfather according to WPSD.  Illinois State Police were asked to take over the investigation because of a conflict involving local authorities. Investigators found two broken windows. They recovered spent shotgun shell casings outside the home. They determined Maloney had fired two shots after first claiming he fired one warning shot. Some reports indicate Nathaniel was on a phone call that recorded his shout that he was an unarmed 16 year old from WIFI Radio. I’ve been wondering about that phone call. Why did it record his final cry? Was it to 911? Maloney’s decision to take matters into his own hands, shooting an unarmed teenager running away from him, buttressed the prosecutor’s charge of three counts of First Degree Murder. He remains in custody. Why three counts when there was one victim? My understanding is that this allows for alternate theories of the crime. That’s a legal matter I can’t adequately address. Media reports indicated Nathaniel was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. No charges involving Charles Maloney have been filed. There is some potential conflict of interest because Justin and/or Charles Maloney have ties to the local Salinas Sheriff Department. That is why the State Police were assigned the investigation. They also expect an outside prosecutor to be assigned. What kind of local connections could there be that trump a 16 year old kid is shot to death in the back? Nathaniel’s family and friends have alleged that grandfather Chuck Maloney allowed Nathaniel to stay in the home, possibly treating him badly, and this was source of shooters anger. It is difficult to confirm those allegations, especially before a trial, but the number one thing people are asking is “Why was Nathaniel in the house?” – assuming he was there to steal something. If Nathaniel had previously been invited and/or resided in the house, that presents at least one alternate explanation. If Chuck Maloney was mistreating Nathaniel, that presents another explanation. Others allege Nathaniel stayed in the house with his mother. It is easy to sidestep community feedback, but with the vulnerability of LGBTQ+ kids to neglect and abuse – we have to keep raising these questions. I find we tend to sweep them under the rug, all of us. All of these questions matter, but not in this order and not as a priority. Regardless of the reason he was there, he was an unarmed teenager running away from the adult wielding a gun. Justin Maloney could have announced his presence, state that he was armed, and police were on the way. Asking why a 16 made what could be a poor decision to enter someone’s house without permission is not helpful. Asking why a 41 year old adult with a gun took matters into his own hands when dealing with an unarmed teenager running away from him is the question. Nathaniel did not experience a natural consequence for his actions. Had he been taken into custody for questioning, this clearly would have unfolded differently. Why did Maloney take matters into his own hands? Why did he shoot Nathaniel? So while I do think it is important to determine why Nathaniel was in the house, it is not because he was complicit in his own shooting death. Honoring Nathaniel Nathaniel was born in November 2009 in Marion, Illinois. He was a student at El Dorado High School. Friends describe him as respectful, kind, and helpful. Others talk about the fun they had with Nathaniel while arranging their hair, trying on clothes, and experimenting with makeup. His obituary provides more information. Friends and family confirm Nathaniel was part of the LGBTQ+ community, but there is no specificity about his identity. Nathaniel’s presentation was gender nonconforming which is a broad term. Some have said Nathaniel was nonbinary, but there is no confirmation of that. So I am using gender nonconforming and the he/him pronouns others use to describe Nathaniel. After all, Nathaniel was denied the opportunity to explore and expand his identity in every way. That’s the price everyone pays. One need only read a few comments excoriating Nathaniel for his perceived identity – comments around his murder – to understand why visibility matters and how it could have been a factor in any aspect of his life. I think it is also important to note that for younger folx, the fluidity of gender identity and sexual orientation is more accepted and less threatening therefore requires fewer labels. Or sometimes more labels. It doesn’t matter if Nathaniel was gay or straight, trans or cisgender, nonbinary or otherwise. It doesn’t matter why he was in the house. None of those things justify shooting an unarmed teenager in the back. Nothing does. We want to know and celebrate Nathaniel’s life, perhaps address specific issues that could help other youth. We want to see justice served. But learning those facts to know his life is different than using them to assign blame. Friends and family have been fierce in demanding justice. They organized a protest outside of the court hearing, They have been insistent that everyone should keep Nathaniel’s name in the public eye. Given law enforcement’s acknowledgement of potential conflict, it seems wise to keep up the pressure and close scrutiny. Raleigh is a small town of about 300 residents. Their grief is heartbreakingly palpable in each post. Context Nathaniel is the eleventh trans/ gender nonconforming person whose violent death has been reported in the US during 2026. I have no doubt there have been other violent deaths, they are just hidden for reasons I laid out earlier. When I use trans in this section’s context, I am using it as an umbrella term like “queer” or “LGBTQ” to capture all identities that resist gender binaries. He is the fourth white trans person and the youngest on the list at age 16. Nathaniel is the second trans person in Illinois killed this year, the first was Davonta Curtis in April. In 2024, Redd ‘Barbie’ Joseph  was killed. In 2023, we reported on the death of Unique Banks, Dominic Palace Dupree, Lisa Love, and Lovely Page, In 2022, Tatiana LaBelle and Martasia Richmond. In 2021, Tyianna Davarea Alexandra, Tiara Banks. Disaya Monaee Smith, Brianna Ulmer Hamilton, Ke’Yahonna Stone. In 2020, Eshay Key. In 2018, Dejanay Stanton and Ciara Minaj Carter Frazier. In 2017, KeKe Collier, And from 2016, T.T. Saffore. 19 recorded homicides in ten years. I am sure that number is too low, especially given the violence in Chicago. I also looked at the data for teenagers up to age 19. I found 24 documented murders with the youngest age 14. My heart sank when I looked at the tally. Who knows what those beautiful young people would have accomplished, how many dreams would have been fulfilled? Nathaniel is among that group now. We should be furious. More children and young people will die because of the ongoing demonization, the hateful and vicious attacks on trans folx, especially young people. Stripping children of the freedom to control their own identity, to use a bathroom that feels safe, denying them a chance to see people like them in books and school lessons. Teaching other children that trans kids are a threat because they want to be themselves. Torturing parents into fleeing their home state and the States to ensure their kids have access to health care. That callous disregard for the beautiful trans youth and children among us – including gender nonconforming youth – fuels the sort of ugly violence that rationalizes murdering a 16 year old running away from a gun. Those things are all connected. Nathaniel’s existence was devalued by his government, by the media, and by the community narrative. How would be not expect the worst outcome for him in a violent situation? As time goes by and the investigation continues, I hope we’ll get more clarity about Nathaniel’s life and the details surrounding his death. His warriors seem determined to shine a bright light. That is what we need to ensure justice. We can’t lose sight of the fact that there are ties between the shooter and the local sheriff’s office. I’d like to know what they are. Investigating the shooting death of a LGBTQ+ teen at the hands of a well-connected resident is dicey. Lots of eyes on the investigation will help. Rest in power, Nathaniel. Your light was a beacon for so many people. I hope you knew how much you were loved and valued. You deserved to leave that house unmolested and safe, with a fair reckoning of whatever choices you made – one that did not include gun violence. May your memory be a revolution. Deaths reported in 2026 These individuals are part of the trans community including transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and gender creative folx. Please do not share this content without attribution. Thank you Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-Mccray – Petersburg, Virginia. March 13, 2026. Age 42. Davonta Curtis – Chicago, Illinois. April 5, 2026. Age 32. Dannielle Spillman – San Francisco, California. April 16, 2026. Age 74. Aleanna Royal Belcher – Binghamton, New York. April 17, 2026. Age 31. Lucas Redbeard Knapp – Candy Kitchen, Cibola County, New Mexico, April 18, 2026. Age 39. Hailey Singleton – Dunnellton, Florida, May 5, 2026. Age 29. Lanessa Rodriguez – Ft Pierce, Florida, April 28, 2026. Age 35. Jade Roberts – Houston, Texas, January 2, 2026. Age 25. Paris Harris – Dallas, Texas, April 17, 2026. Age 21. Eryka Caldwell – New York, New York, May 17, 2026. Age 41. Nathaniel Potts – Eldorado, Illinois, May 20, 2026. Age 16. Other Deaths We are following these cases, but cannot confirm the details right now. Daniella Analee Escobedo – Las Vegas, Nevada (unconfirmed), April 12, 2026. Age 34.