The shooting of a lesbian couple in Portland, Texas on the same weekend when many cities, including Chicago, celebrate pride has left many LGBT Americans reeling.
Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, of Sinton and Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, of Ingleside were found together in Violet Andrews Park in Portland June 23. Olgin was found dead at the scene. Chapa suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to and area hospital where she remains in stable condition.
The two were discovered just before 9:00 a.m. in a grassy area below a scenic overlook, police said. A couple visiting the park found Olgin and Chapa and called police.
Two witnesses told police they heard what sounded like fireworks or gunshots just before midnight the night before.
Investigators found shell casings from a large caliber handgun near the scene. Olgin's car was also found nearby, said police.
Police said there was not evidence of a hate crime, but they are not ruling out the possibility.
According to Texas-based news station KIII-TV, the murder is the first that Portland has seen in two years.
Olgin's sister responded to the news of her death on a Facebook page for a vigil to be held in her honor.
"Mollie, my beautiful little sister," Meghan Olgin wrote. "You were an important person in my life who never deserved such a horrible thing. You were so full of life and so loving that I admired you for not caring what other people though of you. I miss you so much. This has and probably will be one of the hardest parts [sic] of my life. I might be there crying but it won't necessarily be sad tears but happy tears too because I know you are at peace and are looking down on all of us. I love you baby sister. Kristene, you made my sister so happy and I consider you like a sister as well."
Several news reports show a makeshift memorial that has been built on the site, with rainbow fabric tied around the posts of the overlook deck.
News of the shooting has rocked the country. It falls on the same weekend when many LGBT people celebrate at pride festivities. Anti-LGBT hate violence tends to spike during times when LGBT people are most visible in the media, with Pride Month in June often seeing a rise in bias-related incidents.
LGBT groups from around the country responded to news of the shooting. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, which provides LGBT victim advocacy and tracks hate crimes, said that its Texas-based organization is investigating the incident.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Chad Griffin called on the FBI and Department of Justice to investigate.
"I want to express my sincerest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this horrific crime," said Griffin in a statement. "Two young lesbian women were shot and one lost her life. Regardless of the motivation behind this tragedy, we must send a strong message that violence against anyone is never acceptable."
LGBT Groups Respond
Truth Wins Out
Truth Wins Out called for swift justice today after two teenage girls in a five-month relationship were shot in a Portland, Texas park with one of the girls dying from head injuries.
Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and Mary Christine Chapa, 18, were found in knee-deep grass in a nature area in Portland on Saturday. Olgin, who recently moved to Corpus Christi, died; Chapa, of Sinton, was taken to the hospital where she had surgery and is listed in serious but stable condition, according to local NBC affiliate kristv.com .
"We call on the police and public officials in Portland to ensure that justice is served and the savages behind this sadistic slaying are placed behind bars," said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. "We are deeply saddened by the heartbreak and horror that just occurred in Texas. We hope that Chapa fully recovers and our thoughts are with both families in this tragic time."
Truth Wins Out is a nonprofit organization that fights anti-LGBT extremism. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) alarmed by shooting of lesbian couple in a Portland, Texas Park
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has learned of the shooting of a lesbian couple in a park in Portland, Texas, a small community outside of Corpus Christi. Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and Mary Christine Chapa, 18, were both shot in the head, and Olgin has died from her injury. According to local police, they are looking into the possibility of a bias or hate motivation in this brutal, fatal attack.
NCAVP continues to investigate whether there is a connection between hate violence or bias and this violence. We are working with our NCAVP member organizations in Texas, as well as other Texas-based LGBTQ organizations, to find out additional information and to offer our assistance with their efforts to support the community during this critical time. NCAVP encourages anyone who has experienced violence to contact a local anti-violence program for support and to document this violence.
HRC and Equality Texas Statement on Shooting of Texas Lesbian Couple
Washington — The Human Rights Campaign and Equality Texas are urging the Department of Justice and local law enforcement in Portland, Texas, to continue investigating the shooting of a young lesbian couple in a park over the weekend. The couple, ages 18 and 19 respectively, were found Saturday and are believed to have been shot about nine hours earlier. The shooting claimed the life of one of the young women; the other remains in serious but stable condition following emergency surgery. The motive of the shooting remains unclear.
HRC has reached out to local law enforcement officials as well as the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI. HRC President Chad Griffin released the following statement:
"I want to express my sincerest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this horrific crime. Two young lesbian women were shot and one lost her life. Regardless of the motivation behind this tragedy, we must send a strong message that violence against anyone is never acceptable. We have reached out to law enforcement officials at both the federal and local level, and hope to see a thorough investigation. These women, and all victims of violent crimes, deserve nothing less."
Equality Texas issued the following statement after speaking with DOJ's Community Relations Service:
"Equality Texas joins with the Human Rights Campaign in urging a swift and thorough investigation of this crime. We applaud the Department of Justice Community Relations Service for quickly offering their assistance."
