[8][15][6][5] It was also alleged that the officer had called McDade a racial slur before shooting and killing him,[13] though this was later proven false through body camera footage.

[20] Early on May 27, McDade went live on Facebook to recount being jumped by a group of men, which had been a one-on-one fight before an insult caused four others to join, and vowed revenge.

McDade stated he had weapons and planned to fight one of the men;[21] "It took five of you to kick and punch and have me on the ground in a fetal position.

"According to the Tallahassee Police Department they approached McDade on May 27, as a suspect in the fatal stabbing of Malik Jackson earlier in the day.

The Department Police Chief Lawrence Revelle told reporters that; "the suspect was in possession of a handgun, and a bloody knife was found at the scene" and that McDade had pointed a gun at the responding officer.

In April 2021, the police union emerged victorious: a Florida appellate court ruled that cops who kill civilians can now have their identities legally protected.

[2][1][26] On May 27, a petition was created to publicize the case, and for McDade to be recognised as a transgender man in reports and official statements.

"[27] Over 100 LGBTQ organizations signed an open letter including McDade in a list of recent transgender killings.