Puerto Rico police are investigating whether the shooting death of a trans man in Mayagüez was a hate crime, after the body was found in the early hours of Friday, November 6, on a vacant lot bordering the Candelaria public housing complex. The victim has not been identified. According to preliminary information, several bullet casings were collected at the scene.
The body was found near animal pens in the vicinity of PR-2 highway. As part of the investigation, the police activated the corresponding protocol to assess whether the motive for the killing was prejudice or hatred toward the victim’s gender identity. The authorities have not ruled out that it could be a possible hate crime. However, the motive for the killing has not been established and remains under investigation.