BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Erie County District Attorney's Office is investigating whether a shooting death in Buffalo's Emerson neighborhood may have been a potential hate crime.

The DA's Office says a transgender woman was shot to death on Shepard Street around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Buffalo police originally said the victim was a 35-year-old man.

Erie County DA John Flynn says he's extremely concerned about a spike in homicides of transgender people across the country.

"We're at the initial stages of the investigation. We're not near any level to determine if it was a hate crime or not. I want the community to know this is on my mind. I want the community to know that hate crimes have zero tolerance here in the DA's Office and at BPD,” said Flynn.

Investigators have not been able to find a permanent address for the victim.