Man in United States murders prostitute because he turned out to be man

A man gunned down a prostitute when he learned that he had hired a cross-dressing man for sex, police said. Brandon L. King, 21, was wearing a green jacket with a fur collar, trousers, a black bra and pink panties when he was shot and killed just before dawn Friday in the city's Nicetown section, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday.

Photo: Man in United States murders prostitute because he turned out to be man

The suspect, Terron Oates, initially told police he and King had been in King's vehicle when they were robbed by a gunman who shot through one of the windows. The story did not match what other witnesses told investigators, authorities told The Philadelphia Inquirer for a story published Wednesday.

Oates, 18, later confessed, saying he became angry after learning that King was a man, police said.

Witnesses told police that Oates tried to flee but could not get his van started. He was arrested at the scene, police said.

Neighbors said they saw Oates throw something over a junkyard fence. Police said they found a .45-caliber pistol that they believe was the murder weapon.

Oates was being held without bail on a murder charge. His court-appointed attorney, Andrea Konow, said she was not prepared to answer questions about his case.

King's parents, Ervin and Andrea Ransom, told the newspaper their son began dressing in women's clothes and calling himself Alexis soon after dropping out of high school.

"I told him to be careful," Andrea Ransom said.

King had been arrested before on prostitution charges, according to court records.

"If you want to be a lady, then act like one," Ransom said she told her son. "Real women don't do what you do", reports the AP.

D.M.