In Grant Town, W. Va., an African-American gay man was beaten to death July 4, then run over with a car by two teenagers trying to cover up their crime, reports The Charleston Daily News.
Arthur "J.R." Warren Jr., 26, was reportedly beaten to death after he stopped by a vacant house on Route 17. Investigators say his 17-year-old killers had been painting at the building, and the three had known each other for some time. After beating him, the teens allegedly dumped Warren's body and tried to make it look like he had been hit by a car.
A 16-year-old is also being questioned in connection with the slaying—he told his mother and then police that he helped the two 17-year-olds clean up the murder scene.
The two older teens have reportedly confessed and been charged with first-degree murder.
Warren's parents have come forward to say they want the killers charged with a hate crime. National gay groups, and gay groups in West Virginia, are also calling for hate-crime charges.
But the state's legislature recently voted against expanding the hate-crime law to include gays.
In addition, authorities will not confirm that Warren's murder was linked to his sexuality, and police say there is no evidence of this being a hate crime, the Daily News said.
"In none of the statements that I received, no one that I've talked to thereafter has ever indicated to me that its cause was sexuality or the color of his skin," Marion County Sheriff Ron Watkins said, according to CNN. "Until I receive that evidence, I can't very well say it was a hate crime."
Parents Brenda and Arthur Warren said they also hope the three white teenagers would be tried as adults, reports CNN.
And at the service, people attending were urged to call the prosecutor to ask that the youths be charged with a hate crime.
"If it's not hate, what is it?" Brenda Warren said to CNN. "I just want someone to tell me what it is. I want them, and my friends and my entire family want them to be tried as adults."
Arthur Warren Sr.. ordered that his son's coffin be left open during services last Saturday, so everyone could see what had happened to his son.
The Human Rights Campaign and the West Virginia Lesbian & Gay Coalition are urging Marion County Sheriff Ron Watkins and Prosecutor G. Richard Bunner to investigate the murder of Warren as a possible hate crime.
Angela Dunlap, a board member of the W. Va. Lesbian and Gay Coalition, reported that Arthur Warren had spoken to her last year about being intimidated and attacked various times by unidentified high school boys in his hometown, in the north-central part of the state. The town has only about 700 residents.
Thursday the teens go to court and learn whether they will be charged as adults, and they could face both murder and conspiracy charges.