DEATH OF TRANSGENDERED TEEN - HATE CRIME?

Some sad news comes our way from Colorado. An 18 yr old transgender teen was found murdered in her apt last week. The police are still stumped with who could be accountable for the crime.

Friends are wondering if this could be considered a Hate Crime because of how the victim lived her everyday life. Justin David Zapata, the victim, used to go by the name of Angie and lived his life as a woman.

It should be important to recognize that this is one aspect of Angie’s identity, and it should be factored in very seriously into the investigation," Kelly Costello of the Colorado Anti-Violence Program told MyFOX Colorado.

Police are still searching for Zapata's car, a 2003 dark green Chrysler PT Cruiser with the Colorado license plate 441ORN.

"Why would anybody even dare do something like that?" friend Alicia Portillo told MyFOX Colorado. "Why?"

On Wednesday, friends remembered Zapata as a caring friend who didn't care what others thought of her.

"She was beautiful and she wanted people to accept her for who she was,” Portillo said. [SOURCE]

Sad news. Even if this is not a Hate Crime, it should still shed light to the public how Transgendered individuals can be treated on a day to day basis. Rest In Peace Angie!