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Hearing postponed in Maryland transgender murder case

October 19, 2015 at 2:52 p.m. EDT
Photos of Zella Ziona, also known as DeAndre Smith, who was killed Oct. 15. On far left is her mother, Tyshika Smith. (Family photo)

A court hearing scheduled for Monday for the suspect in the murder case of a transgender woman in Montgomery County was postponed for the time being.

Rico Hector LeBlond, 20, had been set to have the terms of his bond reviewed Monday afternoon in the county’s District Court. His attorney requested that the hearing be waived.

LeBlond remains held without bond. He will stay in jail pending further action.

LeBlond is charged in the fatal shooting of Zella Ziona, 21, who also was called DeAndre Smith.

Earlier: Rico LeBlond charged in Maryland transgender homicide case

LeBlond and Ziona had some kind of relationship, and tension was simmering between the two, police have said. Prior to the shooting, Ziona had approached LeBlond in a shopping mall in front of LeBlond’s friends. The incident embarrassed LeBlond, police have said in charging documents.

According to police, on Thursday LeBlond waited behind a dumpster in an alley in the county’s Montgomery Village area. He knew that the victim would be coming into the alley, police say. LeBlond wore a monster mask over part of his face and came out from behind the dumpster and shot Ziona several times in the head and groin area, according to authorities.

Family recalls victim: ‘The most beautiful smile you ever saw’