Investigators found no evidence that the torture and murder of a transgender man whose leftovers were found in an area in the north of New York last week was a crime of hatred, said officials of the law application.
Law application officials said on Sunday that some or all five people accused of murder in the murder were themselves members of the LGBTQ communities.
The man, Sam Norquist, 24, knew people suspected of murder, and at least one had lived with him in a motel, according to a statement published by the police of New York State and James Ritts, the prosecutor of County of Ontario.
“We urge the community not to speculate in the reason behind the murder while we are working to find justice for Sam,” the statement said. “Currently, we have no indication that the murder of Sam was a crime of hatred.”
The announcement last week of the brutal death of Mr. Norquist, who, according to a police officer, said at a press conference was “one of the most horrible crimes I have ever investigated”, was Followed by a flood of questions to find out if he was targeted because he was transgender, Mr. Ritts and the State police announced on Sunday. “We share the shock of the community by an act of violence as obnoxious and understand the fear circulating among the members of the LGBTQ +community,” the statement said. “We remain focused on the holding of these responsible people and will continue to work tirelessly to finish the investigation into the murder of Sam.”
