Alexa Negron Luciano.Photo:Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Two men who recorded themselves assaulting a transgender woman just hours before she was found murdered in Puerto Rico pleaded guilty this week to multiple crimes.
Jordany Rafael Laboy-Garcia and Christian Yamaurie Rivera-Otero pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a hate crime and obstruction of justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico announced in apress releaseon Monday.
On Feb. 24, 2020, just after midnight, the two men and another man, Anthony Steven Lobos-Ruiz, who has since pleaded guilty in the case, were out driving in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, when they saw Negron Luciano standing under a tent near the side of the road, the release states.
The group then got a paintball gun and Lobos-Ruiz recorded another video, during which Laboy-Garcia was captured shooting Negron Luciano “multiple times,” the release states. After the assault, prosecutors said Lobos-Ruiz shared the video with others, though they did not reveal how many people it was sent to.
Hours later, Rivera-Otero and Lobos-Ruiz texted each other to delete the videos of the assault, prosecutors said. Lobos-Ruiz then got rid of the footage.
“The defendants are being held accountable for assaulting a transgender woman because of her gender identity and then trying to obstruct an investigation into that assault,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said in the release.
“Acts of violence against LGBTQI+ people have no place in our society today. As we mark 25 years since the death ofMatthew Shepard, the Justice Department remain steadfast in its commitment to investigate and prosecute those who target LGBTQI+ people with acts of violence,” she added.
Laboy-Garcia and Rivera-Otero claimed they recognized Negron Luciano from social media posts about an incident that had occurred the day prior at a local McDonald’s.
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Negron Luciano, who had been experiencing homelessness, was shot multiple times, police said, perThe New York Times,CNNandCBS News.Hours after police were called and a video of her killing had gone viral on the island, her body was found, per the reports.
Her killing sparked outrage in Puerto Rico about the prevalence of transphobia, and several LGBTQ support groups called for authorities to reclassify the incident as a hate crime. In a press conference at the time, now-former Puerto Rican governor Wanda Vázquez called the incident “violence against women, without a doubt.”
Negron Luciano’s slaying also caught the attention of Puerto Rican reggaeton artistBad Bunny.
Bad Bunny.Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
While more than three years have passed, charges have yet to be filed in Negron Luciano’s killing. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to an indictment and arrest for those responsible for her murder.
It’s unclear when the two men will be sentenced for their roles in Negron Luciano’s assault. Lobos-Ruiz previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting others. He wassentenced in November 2022to 33 months in prison.
source: people.com
