Yesterday I wrote about the horrifying murder of 19-year-old Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, a gay Puerto Rican aspiring fashion designer living in Cayey. Lopez Mercado was decapitated, dismembered, and the mutilated body partially burned.
Last night, Puerto Rican authorities announced that they had arrested a 28-year-old man suspected of committing the hate crime. The suspect was arrested after police interviewed the victim’s friends who said that the suspect had offered Lopez Mercado money for sex. Two vehicles were also seized.
FBI spokesman Harry RodrÃguez said that the FBI has offered assistance if necessary and is also monitoring the local police investigation because civil rights hate crimes violations full under federal statutes.
The investigator who implied that Lopez Mercado deserved what he got has been removed from the case, and LGBT activists are urging disciplinary action.
Vigils will be held later this week in San Juan and this Sunday in New York City.
Twitter Users: You can also leave a comment using your Twitter account by clicking the button below.