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Gay Teen Brutally Murdered in Possible Hate Crime in Rural Louisiana: VIDEO
A black, gay high school senior was reportedly found tied up and shot to death in a wooded area near Varnado, Louisiana, on Jan. 12.
Now, an attorney for the family of 17-year-old Ja’Quarius Taylor says he believes the murder was a hate crime based on race and sexual orientation.
“The family has a legal team to help ensure a full, fair, and just investigation is happening,” the attorney told WWL Eyewitness News. “We hope the FBI will get involved because of the perceived conflicts of interest and family relations the local sheriff may have. We’re looking at this as a hate crime based on the race and sexual orientation of Ja’Quarius Taylor.”
Taylor’s mother reported him missing after she woke up last Sunday morning and he was not home, which she said was unusual. A short time later, a worker who was headed to check water levels at a nearby lake discovered Taylor’s body. Last week, a dive team searching for evidence in the lake reportedly made a “significant discovery.”
Ja’Quarius, known as “Jay D,” played drums in the band at Varnado High School and would have been among the first people in his family to attend college, according to his mother. His classmates staged an emotional candlelight vigil on Saturday, and he was remembered during the local MLK Day Parade.
The Human Rights Campaign identified Taylor as gay in its AM Equality newsletter Wednesday, and HRC President Alphonso David tweeted about the case:
This apparent hate crime is horrific. The family of Ja’Quarius Taylor believes he was targeted because he was Black and gay. We join his loved ones in mourning & in demanding a thorough investigation by law enforcement.t.co/BCQ4eAYWD3
— Alphonso David (@AlphonsoDavid) January 22, 2020
Dylan Waguespack, public policy director at the True Colors Fund, also chimed in:
He was found tied up and shot in the swamp in Angie. You won’t see this on the news because law enforcement is keeping it close to the vest. His family wants the world to know what happened to their child and for everyone to join them in calling for justice. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/ojWaVnhpjc
— Dylan says Trans Rights (@DylanMercury) January 19, 2020
Watch an interview with Taylor’s mother here, and watch WWL’s latest report below.
There’s a reward of $5,000 for info leading to the arrest & indictment of who murderd Ja’Quarius.
Any person who has info is asked to call Crimestoppers anonymously at (504) 822-1111, or go online at t.co/uaQeRAsT2i #JusticeforJD #JusticeforJayD #LGBT #BlackLivesMatter
— Jesse Brace (They/Them/Their & Transgender) (@BraceJesse) January 22, 2020
The post Gay Teen Brutally Murdered in Possible Hate Crime in Rural Louisiana: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad Gay News.
Gay Teen Brutally Murdered in Possible Hate Crime in Rural Louisiana: VIDEO
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