A 53-year-old man with a criminal history has been taken into custody for the murder of a transgender woman whose lifeless body was discovered outside the Miami City Ballet building early Tuesday morning.
Miami Beach Police detectives have apprehended a suspect in connection with the brutal beating death of a transgender woman whose lifeless body was found outside the Miami City Ballet building on Tuesday morning.
Identified as Gregory Gibert, 53, the suspect was taken into custody and faces a second-degree murder charge. At the time of the alleged killing, Gibert was out on probation stemming from prior charges of armed robbery and aggravated assault.
According to an arrest report obtained by Fox News Digital, the victim, 37-year-old Andrea Doria Dos Passos, was captured on surveillance footage arriving outside the Miami City Ballet building around midnight. Footage shows Dos Passos lying down near the building's entrance when Gibert arrives and begins surveying the area.
The report further alleges that Gibert retrieved "some type of metal pipe from the ground" and then approached Dos Passos. Witnesses reported hearing screams and a loud banging noise before Dos Passos was discovered unresponsive with severe head trauma.
First responders rushed Dos Passos to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries a short time later.
Witnesses provided descriptions of the suspect, and Gibert was identified and located with the assistance of cameras in the area. Upon his arrest, Gibert allegedly admitted to the altercation with Dos Passos but claimed she had initiated the physical confrontation.
Gibert's criminal history reveals a string of violent offenses, including arrests for aggravated battery, domestic violence, and weapon possession. He was released from prison in 2021 after serving time for armed robbery and aggravated assault.
The motive for the killing remains unclear, and police are continuing their investigation. The transgender community in Miami Beach is reeling from the senseless loss of one of its members and has called for swift justice.
Dos Passos' death marks the latest in a string of violent crimes targeting transgender people in the United States. Advocates have raised concerns about the alarming rate of violence against this vulnerable population, which often faces discrimination, harassment, and prejudice.
Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. The Miami Beach Police Department can be reached at (305) 673-7441.
