Police in Portland, Texas are searching for answers, after Mollie Olgin, 19, and Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, were both shot and left for dead.
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According to ABC News, police are searching for an assailant who targeted the lesbian couple in a close-range shooting that left Mollie dead and Mary in the hospital, however authorities said it is not being investigated as a hate crime.
Police Chief Randy Wright told ABC News:
“The families are devastated, obviously, but there’s really no information that we’ve been able to determine yet that would indicate there was anyone who would want to do this to either of those girls.”
On Saturday morning, a couple discovered the bodies of the two women, who friends say were dating, in knee-high grass near a scenic lookout at Violet Andrews Park.
Police believe both women were shot in the head around midnight. Olgin was pronounced dead at the scene. Chapa was taken to a local hospital and has since regained consciousness.
Cleve Jones, a gay rights activist, noted the timing of the crime, which happened during Pride Weekend, saying:
“Last Friday, as millions of LGBT people and their allies were celebrating Pride, something awful happened in Portland, Texas. We need to respond publicly to this tragedy…Whoever shot Mary Christine Chapa and Mollie Judith Olgin, whatever the motive, regardless of where it happened, two beautiful girls were shot and one was killed. We need to honor the memory of Mollie and pray for the recovery of Mary.”
Mary Kristene Chapa was last listed in critical but stable condition. Our thoughts and prayers are with both families during this time.
