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Courtesy of Hilario Chapa
Siblings Patricia Martinez, left, Hilario Chapa, and Mary Kristene Chapa on April 28, 2012. Kristene Chapa was found shot in the head, along with her girlfriend, in a South Texas park on Saturday. She is recovering in the intensive care unit of a hospital.
Updated at 11:00 p.m ET: When Hilario Chapa went to a hospital to identify his sister, who was found shot in the head along with her girlfriend in a South Texas park, her face was unrecognizable. He and another sibling had to check her hands and feet and the rest of her body instead, in order to determine this was Mary Kristene Chapa, their sister.
But days after the brutal attack that left Kristene’s girlfriend, Mollie Olgin, dead, the 18-year-old has opened her eyes and is making inquiries about her recovery, though she has to write on a clipboard and use sign language to communicate, and she has little sensation on the left side of her body, her brother said.
“I do believe she knows what’s happened, but she hasn’t chosen to talk (about) it on her own,” he said. “I’m under the impression that she doesn’t know” who did it.
“I think she’s pissed about what happened to her and I think she’s ready to get up and take off walking if she could,” he added.
The swelling from the gunshot has gone down, but it's unclear when she'll be able to leave the intensive care unit, said Chapa, 32, who also spoke to NBC Latino.
“All that we’ve gotten from the doctors is that she is making very … impressive progress,” he told msnbc.com, saying it had been "rough." "I can’t even imagine how the other family feels about this situation. ... It’s very tragic.”
Olgin, 19, and Chapa were found in a grassy area of the park by a couple Saturday morning with gunshot wounds to the head in Portland, Texas, Police Chief Randy Wright said. Olgin, a first-year university student living in Corpus Christi, died; Chapa, of Sinton, was alive and rushed to an area hospital.
Police have recovered a bullet casing from a large-caliber gun at the scene, leading investigators to believe the shootings occurred where the pair was found, but they haven’t found the weapon. Two witnesses said they heard what could have been gunshots or firecrackers just before midnight last Friday but did not report it at the time, he said.
Late Thursday, police said an eyewitness to the attack described the suspect as a white man with dark hair in his 20s, weighing 140 pounds and standing 5 foot 8 inches tall.
In the community of Portland, the crime rate is low, with the last homicide occurring in 2010, Wright said. The police haven’t established a motive for the attack on the girls, who were planning to spend some time in the park that fateful Friday night before seeing a movie, Olgin’s father, Mario, told local television station kiiitv.com.
"Information from family and friends indicates that Mollie and Mary were engaged in a same-sex relationship. However, there is no current evidence to indicate the attacks were motivated by that relationship," the police chief said.
Wright told msnbc.com on Monday that: “It appears as if … this was not just a random attack, but that’s something that we really have to develop over time.”
Teen lesbian couple found shot in Texas park
Friends reel from shooting of teen lesbian couple in Texas
Father of slain lesbian teen: 'Justice will be served'
The thought of an attack on his sister because she is gay is incomprehensible to Chapa. She is an “all-American kid,” who excels at her studies as well as at softball (she is a pitcher), and is well liked, he said.
“A lot of people want to speculate it was a hate crime. I just can’t comprehend why somebody would shoot two … 18 or 19 year old girl(s) over a hate crime,” he said. “The brutality of it, you know, it’s just unimaginable.”
Police are investigating the shooting of two teenage girls in a same-sex relationship in a small Texas community along the Gulf of Mexico. KRIS reporter Lindsay Curtis has the story.
“I know that Texas has a lot of stereotypes … but South Texas really is a good place,” he added. “You don’t see a lot of hate crimes going on down here. You don’t hear about gay bashing or anything like that.”
Chapa didn’t know his sister was gay before the shootings, though he had thought she might be. He said his mother and other sister already knew. Friends say the pair had been going out since mid-February.
“Our family is very supportive,” he said. “We will take Kristina … for who she is and what she wanted to be, and we will support her in that.”
Chapa said his sister has maintained a stoic face: "You just see her fighting," he said, noting she was eagerly asking questions about her condition.
“She’s moving her right side very strongly,” he said. “But her left side, they haven’t used that word (paralysis), it’s too early to tell. ... She just hasn’t moved it.
"No one is saying she’s paralyzed," he added, noting that he believed his parents had said she experienced some feeling on her left side.
Kristene has written Mollie’s name down a few times, but Chapa said he worried about telling her she was killed, fearing it could cause a medical setback.
“I'm kind of afraid," he said. "She is in such a fragile state right now.”
The shooting has taken its toll on the family. The parents are maintaining a 24-hour vigil at the hospital and Chapa said he was initially a wreck.
Doctors have told them almost no one survives this kind of shooting, especially given the long period of time between being shot and found. It was an "amazing thing,” he said.
The shooting has also hit the family hard financially. Chapa’s father had just started a new job in West Texas and had not yet enrolled for health insurance, so Kristene is without coverage. They are seeking donations to help them pay for the medical care, which doesn’t yet have an end in sight. (Donations can be made here)
The family has yet to meet with Olgin’s family, though they hope to soon and to provide them support as well, said Chapa, who had never met Mollie.
Chapa has taken time off work from his job as an equipment cleaner at the Corpus Christi Army Depot to focus on his sister’s recovery. During these tough days, he said it is Kristene who gives him encouragement.
"I can honestly say that just watching my sister progress, watching her come back to us, and … seeing her strength, it gives me strength,” he said. “There’s nothing that anybody can tell you … all you can really do is just hang onto hope and just watching her gives me hope.”
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Leave a Comment:
I sincerely wish you well Kristene. Hopefully, you will fully recover and enjoy a long life.
I also hope the perpetrator of this crime is located and prosecuted to the FULL extent of the law, and is shown NO leniency or mercy by the courts.
I sincerely hope they find who did this.
Wishing Kristene a full and healthy recovery.
Many are speculating as to the motivation behind this senseless crime.... does it really matter? Will it being random or a "hate" crime CHANGE that one girl is critically injured and the other girl is dead? No, it won't. I do hope they find the person or persons who did this and lock them up for the rest of their lives!!
My thoughts and prayers go out to both families.....
Shame on the news media for constantly labeling this girl as "lesbian". She is an American female, her sexual orientation does not need to be proclaimed at every mention of her. The news headline didn't mention the brother's sexual orientation did it??
The first article about this incident was full of hateful comments towards Texans calling us every name in the book, along with calling us homophobes. I hope we can avoid that this time. These people have no idea about TX and have no idea what they are talking about. Corpus Christi, where the girls are from and Austin are some of the biggest meccas for the gl community in Texas and no one pays it any mind. Folks just love to stir up hate against anyone they can.
Of course, with "brother of shot lesbian teen" in the headline, this site is no stranger to stirring up confrontation.
If the shooter was black could the white panthers put a 10,000.00 bounty on the shooter??
I'm guessing lesbian Love triangle.
"If the shooter was black could the white panthers put a 10,000.00 bounty on the shooter??"
Really? You really want the whole world to know how much or a moron you are?
I can't for the life of me figure out why the girl being a lesian had anything to do with her being shot? Couldn't the headline just say "Two Girls found shot in the head"? I don't care what they were doing with each other.
Is it just me or seeing the picture of the two lesbians kissing are a little jarring? I know MSNBC wants to portray this couple as being normal, but we all know it isn't; and the fact that they keep running this news story just proves the point that MSNBC is not real news but a gay magazine.
Why is it when two friends are shot, they have a normal picture? Even when a heterosexual couple is shot, they also have a normal picture( in other words, no smooching). But when it is two gays? Makes you wonder what they are really pushing.
But showing mercy is what we are supposed to do, it's called forgivness
I'll ask it again:
Why do people have such a problem with the word LESBIAN?
I get it, you dont want the word shown so people ...shhh..."know" what they actually are.
But, newsflash...it's what these girls are, and I dont see a reason to omit the truth.
UNHAPPY - really, a girl kissing another girl on the check is "jarring"?
Yeah, I dont expect them to post a photo of "friends" kissing - these girls werent friends, they were dating. It's that simple.
And normally, when it's a hetero couple - they show them entwined in a hug of some sort, sometimes kissing...you just dont happen to notice it. Because you're so used to seeing it.
I'll give my wife a big kiss tonight and smile at the thought that it bothers you. pathetic.
JK, I was thinking the same thing. Is it really necessary to say "....brother of lesbian teen......" Did MSN add that to their title thinking to attract more readers? Pretty crappy, really! What does it matter? If a heterosexual couple got shot, the news would say "brother of hetersexual....." or..... "brother of white girl..... or "Brother of Chinese girl, etc.... you get the msg. What matters is that the brother of the teen was speaking out on her behalf. The love and support this family, community and her friends have for her and the strength she has within will be so helpful to her.
I wish her the best recovery and hope they find the creep(s) that did this.
Brian and Unhappy, you're right they don't label heterosexual couples when they write stories like this about them, at least they don't call them "heterosexual couples", instead they say, "boyfriend and girlfriend killed by unkown shooter" or "husband and wife murdered", so next time something like this happens maybe MSNBC should just say "girlfriend and girlfriend shot in their heads" or how about "female couple shot"? Really? The title is what you worry about? How about the fact that these young women had lives and so much to give the world, or families that loved them and needed them? No.. let's be upset because they were lesbians and MSNBC put it out there.
It doesn’t say “lesbian couple” though, does it? It says “lesbian
teen.” Would you write about a “straight teen” being killed? It is obvious that
MSNBC and the rest of the media are wildly speculating that they were killed
because of their sexuality. That is the only reason this tragic case has
received the amount of attention it has. Maybe that will prove to be the case,
but shouldn’t we wait until we know for sure?
Lesbian is offensive, the correct term that should be used is "Heterosexually challenged" . If the killer is Mexican I bet msn will refer to the criminal as a "white Latino", because Mexicans don't commit crimes only the white devil.
It's just you and your fellow bigots. Normal people don't have the reaction you do.
That aint normal skrekk. It doesnt take a bigot to see that ,sugar tits
For you idiots defending the way in which this article is presented, this is not just an attempt classify the victims. This is an attempt to paint a crime as having been committed in response to these young ladies sexual orientation. If they could get away with it the editors would have titled the article, Hapless Young Lesbian Couple Possibly Hunted Down in Texas by Conservative Texan Bigots Who may have Previously been Involved in Telling other Women what to do with their Bodies and Who May also be Racist and Who may also be members of the NRA and Who are probably in some way Related to the Koch Brothers. Just because you claim otherwise does not prevent a thinking individual from discerning the purpose behind the title of this article. News is no longer news;rather, it is an opportunity to disparage those that the MSM disagree with. This is a sad story; it's too bad MSNBC uses this tragedy in such a way.
Unhappy,
I don't like having to look at fatso people like you with your way-too-tight jean-shorts and your 2 sizes too small t-shirt that dosen't cover your gut but I don't shoot you. If they were shot because they were lesbians then it's a hate crime!
wonder how...gay or straight...the shooter was...let us know msnbc...hopefully it will be on the... corporately controlled media's agenda...and the survey say's ;; not a straight shooter...
Shrekk: Actually they do. You don't on the other hand because your daughter is gay. So its pretty normal for you. Don't call people bigots when at least 85% of the population feels the same way. If anything you are adding to MSNBC's gay magazine.
Franktheprank: I'm not fat, but thanks anyway for thinking that anyone who is fat has to be subject to your namecalling.
Nowhere did I start with the name calling but then again, that is the only thing you lefties know how to do.
Jessica: Does it bother you that most people find your behavior abnormal? Why else do you feel the need to constantly defend it unless you know too that it is abnormal? Pathetic? I'm not the one who constantly has to name call to make a point heard. In fact, I've noticed that is how all lefties try to win an argument.
Oh, BITE ME!, unhappy! Easy to see why you call yourself that. You must lead an awful lonely existence to be so judgemental and pious. It's people like you with your hater mentality that perpetuate hate and keep us in the Dark Ages. Gay people have been around for ages, and they're not going anywhere! So suck it up and keep your stupid comments to yourself. If something as innocent as a girl smacking another girl on the cheek makes you "uncomfortable", then TURN THE PAGE!!!! Hope none of your kids turn out to be gay. You would probably disown them. I hope you continue to live a long, lonely, bitter and cold life, Unhappy. You deserve it.
It always amazes me how fast the lefty name-calling starts. You must have to be childish to fit on the left. And this article was labeled as it was just for this purpose, to start the conservative bashing. We are not allowed to express our opinion. But, you know something? I am an adult; I can take it. It just makes you libs look childish.
Tired I'm sure some of your friends are lefty's and your not brave enough to say that to their face. If your blaming the left or the right for this you're narrow minded. Why don't you judge people on their actions?...So you're saying everyone on the right is good and everyone on the left is the enemy...so you would take a registered Republican serial killer over a lefty who works for 5 charities...or a crooked evangelical,,,to many to name...over a lesbian democrat minding her own business...just curious what that makes you....I'm guessing tired.
Just donated to the We Pay fund.
Hopefully they find that scum. I pray that Mary Kristene saw who did this and will be able to communicate it to the police.
Were the two people that got shot a lesbian couple? YES!
So WTF is your problem then, Unhappy? The journalists are stating facts. They also clearly stated that the cops don't think it is a hate crime at this point. The fact that you take issue with how it might be interpreted is only outing you as someone who would try and deny any attention towards a cause you personally don't agree with. Either that or you are speaking for all the morons who don't have a very high reading comprehension.
Hate to break it to you, but you are pulling that figure out of your a$$. I'm sure you knew that. Doesn't matter though. Even if that number were 100% it is still bigotry. A majority opinion doesn't negate the fact that it is hateful. Quantity does not change the definition of a word. You and the supposed 85% are still bigots!
It doesn't matter if you are right or left. I don't really care how you feel about gays. Even if you were a liberal, you are still the type of person to ignore certain statements and cling to the others that help your argument. Resulting in an amazingly uninformed opinion. Conservatives already have a rep for being incapable of critical, unbiased thinking. Do us Republicans a favor and say you are a democrat please. We don't need you on our team!
This is not the first time, nor the last time this part of the discussion will happen. When Gabrielle Giffords was shot, one of the rescuers was GAY. A large majority of the original discussion was about the GAY HERO, from GAY members on the vine. Here we are back full circle, using a qualifying pro-noun somehow makes the case different than it really is. Mr. Hernandez is a HERO. There is no need for any other description, the word itself says it all.
Two young ladies were shot. One is DEAD. One is surviving. Their sexual orientation ONLY BECOMES relevant once we have all the facts in the case, assuming it becomes a crime of hate. Perhaps, as one blogger has already said, maybe it was a crime of passion ( a 3rd lover MALE Or FEMALE then WHAT?). Perhaps it was a robbery, a gang shooting, or just plain murder. Do we the public need to know more about their eating habits, their personal hygeine, or their sexual preference? Mollie Hogan has been shot and killed. Kristene has been shot and is in Critical condition. What more does there need to be said to explain what has happened at this point?
As long as WE, the SOCIETY, keep making new pro-nouns and euphemisms, to explain everything, We will keep having hate, fear, and poor journalism. Isn't the old Saying KISS. Keep it SHORT and Simple.
My condolences go out to Ms Hogan and family. Prayers for recovery for Ms Chapa.
I agree, to an extent. After living in Dallas for 6 years, I noticed Texas is actually very gay friendly (in the cities anyway). Even little, tiny, conservative Denison, Texas on the Oklahoma border has a gay bar and a growing gay population. A couple of towns even have gay oriented nude beaches. Dallas, Houston, and Austin have thriving gay communities and most Texans seemed surprisingly very tolerant about it. And that was in the 90's!
I do, however, question the intelligence of Texans who put Rick Perry in office. Talk about an ignorant backwoods rube that has given Texas a bad rep. Rick Perry tops the cake!
Lolly1192: You do realize you are not allowed to up your own comments? Second, you are not a Republican, just a Democrat that likes to lie about being on one side when they stand for another. Oh wait... that's Obama.
As for caring how you feel.... I don't...... the world does not revolve against the LGBT community and people like you.
Unlike you, I don't just get my information from MSNBC or any other liberal network. It's because you don't check the other stations that you always think the number is higher than it is. What's bigoted is your speech. Anyone that doesn't agree with is now a bigot? Sorry, but you fail that test. Nobody believes that crap anymore from the left; name-calling doesn't automatically get you credibility. It just shows that you really can't argue a statement because you know deep down we are correct.
AnimalLuver: You do realize it is spelled ANIMALLOVER, right? Do you not know how to spell? This is the commenting page, right? Maybe you should take comments somewhere else where people cater to you. I hear Obama likes to do that a lot. Then maybe you can act like a normal person in the real world.
I could discuss your name-calling as well, but I see now where lefties get their education. Still can't win an argument on your own, huh?
unhappy I truely pity you I hope one day you can find some peace. Good luck I have a feeling you're going to need it.
I don't believe you're a real samurai
Wishes, hopes, and thoughts are with you and your family Kristene. I have an aunt who was attacked and left for dead, her life partner did die. I hope that whoever did this get's caught and is put to death. I am more than willing to pull the trigger, push the plunger, or just to choke the life out of this POS.
I'd be more than happy to help you, Jeff. I hope your Aunt is doing ok.
Lots of love, care, concern, and prayers are going your way to heal, Kristene! May your entire family feel the strength from others. I wish you well, dear one!
Condolences to Mollie's family. May she rest in peace. This should never have happened, no matter what the murderous crazy person had in his/her crazy mind.
My best wishes to you all!
Since these girls were anti-God, who do you pray to?
The same God you pray to. I'm sure He loved them too.
I also offer prayer and condolences for these 2 women and their families.
ManWomanGod (whatever!) ....
Where did you read these girls were anti-god? Or is that just a snide remark because you are under the mistaken impression that only you (and your ilk) know what god is and what she thinks. Like you own god or something! Geez, what an inconsiderate jerk you are.
Got news for you, god loves all her children.
I would guess the same God who looks over all the divorced people, those who have sex outside of marriage, use the Lord's name in vain, lie, steal, fail to honor their mother or father, covet their neighbor's stuff, etc. Or do you check everyone's background for the slightest 'siin' before you'll pray for their recovery?
Yes. You will eventually learn that "everyone" has a "background". My point was there's no need to act like a "hateful freak".
Poor kid.
Agreed.
I don't know what I would do if the one I love is gone. Heck, I can barely imagine what I would react.
I just hope she is able to overcome this and move on. Hopefully someday, she will find someone else.
it brought me to tears to read that part
still is breaking my heart...I cant even imagine.
Kristene has good people around her, thank goodness for that!
That broke my heart, but at the same time, it's probably the best thing for her recovery at the moment that she doesn't know. She has an amazing family there supporting her thru this. I hope she has a speedy recovery & has the strength to overcome this, she has alot of support to help her. I'd hate to be the one to have to tell her about mollie =(. Poor girls did not deserve this one bit, doesn't matter if they are gay/straight/bi noone deserves this kind of thing to happen to them. I hope they find the s.o.b(s) that did this & give them what they deserve. Condolences to mollie's family&friends. Stay strong Kristene!!
Since she is conscious she might make it.
She is awake and her brain functions well enough for her to write, these are very good signs.
Why didn't MSNBC say she was a Latino/Hispnanic Lesbian? Wouldn't that provoke even more people to read the article while at the same time garnering sympathy for the lesbian and latino/hispanic community?!
I bet MSNBC can't wait to see if a White anti-gay, anti-latino/hispanic male committed this crime.
The only Trolls around here are MSNBC and their pathetic writing style!!!! Tabloid journalism.
I agree!
Me too! And I'm not even white.
GLCSR - nice true colors there, you wear them well.
best of luck, you must have a pretty miserable life if THIS is what youre focusing on.
really *shakes head*...i feel really damn sorry for you. and i shouldnt, thats the sad part.
but yet I do...
How is it to go through life so hateful and having a perspective as ugly as yours? cant be fun I imagine.
Jessica, it sounds like it's YOU that has the hate issues. People here are all sympathetic to what's happened with these two young girls. In addition, the comments being made are those about labeling these girls in the title to attract more readers! It's NOT necessary. They are human beings regardless..... why do you have to give them the title of lesbian girls? Who gives a shi— if they are lesbian, pink blue, striped etc.
Chill..... and think about what YOU are saying!
Thank you mmis ! Jessica can't see the forest for the trees.
Seriously! I've been saying for days how irritating it is that MSN is trying to sensationalize a tragic story without any kind of proof that this had anything to do with sexual orientation. I get it that in the first and second articles they were bringing up the lesbian thing because they thought maybe it was a motive or something, but now it's just getting to be a bit much. These girls were a legitimate couple and defined by much more than their sexuality. I am a lesbian myself, and I would be incredibly annoyed if I were constantly defined only by whom I was dating in a national news story. The fact that this was a deplorable act against two young women who happened to be lesbians, is the main issue here. When and if it is proven that this was a hate crime, it will be another story, but MSN should really take a break with the shoddy reporting.
I've seen plenty of headlines where something is reported about a 'husband and wife', or 'boyfriend and girlfriend', or 'couple' and of course just by mentioning this, we know they are heterosexual. Why is it necessary in all of those cases to mention the relationship of the two people involved? Why is it NOT relevant to this story to identify the relationship of the two women shot, and especially when it is possible that it played a role in the killing?
It is relevant the first couple times, as I said, but if the husband of the husband-wife couple scenario had died, I'm willing to bet you $50 the following headline would not be " Brother of heterosexual woman speaks out!" so now that it's been established numerous times these girls were a couple, they are gay, and there is no proof as of yet it is a hate crime, what is the purpose of using this kind of headline?
interesting. the story doesnt say if her brother is homosexual or heterosexual. also how about the cops investigating this lesbian tragedy? can msnbc list the sexual orientation of all the investigators involved.
And this is interesting to you because...?
Oh, you're just trolling.
Why are watermelon starbursts so good?
See, I can ask irrelevant questions too.
But for real, I wish Kristene heals well enough so she can enjoy some yummy watermelon starbursts one day.
"Uncle Henry" is a jerk.
Uncle Henry...You're a real puke aren't ya!
i love pomegranates but a pain to peel
I would hope that Uncle Henry is making a point to show what little difference it is to know what sexual orientation the victims are.
I think the point he is making is that at this point the victim's sexual orientation hasn't been determined to be the motive for the shooting, so why describe her as lesbian teen (makes no more sense than describing her as brown-eyed teen); until you know the motive it would make just as much sense to list the sexual orientation of everyone in the story.
I agree with twotolove. I think the rest of you are overreacting. It sounds like Uncle Henry is making a point that the sexual orientation of the two girls involved here is irrelevant at this point and should not be one of the main points of the headline. Why on earth is it anyone's business right now whether these two girls are gay or not? It's really not. If it comes out that this was some sort of hate crime, then the information, while still not the business of the general public, may be relevant. As of now, they still don't know if it's a hate crime, so it should not be reported as if it is. I mean give me a break, her own brother still did not know she was gay, so what gives the media the right to plaster it all over the headlines when it is still an undecided factor in the shooting? Personally, I don't think it should be mentioned at all. The media is exploiting this girl to sensationalize the story in my opinion.
Well, I now see that these women were Hispanic. Probbably Mexican. MSNBC could have said that they were Mexican lesbians. Maybe that would have been too confusing. Or, maybe they were illegal immigrant Mexican lesbians. But that would have made my brain explode.
the guy " Uncle Henry" is entitled to speak his mind or type whatever speech he deems as his belief(s) hes not "trolling" [severed head in a jar] says he is or whatever mntbikerZom and twotolove thinks his views on freedom of speech appear to be. MSNBC,CNN,ABC,CBS,FOXNEWS always televise stuff like this and people logon to sites such as this outlet and blow a persons comments out of control and make it seem or hes being a troll,hes being a jerk or shes being a b****. i mean come on who cares what orentation it is gay,bi,lesbian,or straight... comment nicely or dont bother at all be a human being with a brain and common sense if there's any left in this at all anymore.
I get your point "Uncle Henry". The girls sexual orientation has very little at best to do with what happened, but MSN cannot help but to make sure everyone knows they are lesbians.
Yeah, totally unnecessary - and in poor taste - to mention the sexual orientation of this young woman. Shame on MSNBC - !
Why? If they were shot by some bigot because of their orientation, it is relevent to the story.
I agree with you, Cameron. It IS relevent to the story.
No it isn't. The police chef even said they don't know if the shooting was because of their sexual orientation. It's just another way to grab headlines.
There is a few motives to shoot people, especially young girls. If the shooter is a psychopath, then there is no problem. However, we are talking about these 2 girls in middle of the park at night.
Common sense would tell you the shooter is not after raping them, then there is only few motivation for the shooter to do it. Sexual orientation could be one of the key element to explain why this occurs in the first place.
it's not as if it's a bad thing or anything to be ashamed of.. they are giving details about the girl.. who cares? They called her a teen too.. why aren't you complaining about the relevance of that?
It was at a park late at night. If the reports can be believed, the shooting occured shortly before midnight. They could have easily pissed off the wrong people. Murder doesn't just happen because of bigotry.
@Mewers
So, what, we should put "straight teen shot in Chicago" in the headlines, too? Yes, it's descriptive. Mention it in the article. It doesn't really have a place in the headlines this day and age except to grab the attention of readers.
Sexual orientation has no bearing on this case up until the point that it is determined that it was a hate crime. Until that point, they were 2 young girls, out at a city park after midnight. Portland is a pretty safe place. But until more information comes out, the story probably shouldn't just revolve around the sexual orientation of the girls.
@Brian
Yes, the place is pretty safe. Which mean a random psychopath out for killing is even less likely.
If it's not random psychopath, the place is pretty safe, or out to rape them, then it would be fewer reasons to go after these 2 girls. Sexual orientation is of the few reasons that hasn't been ruled out, so it can be consider to be an element for this.
What I did is a process of elimination of elements and common sense, so yes sexual orientation can be consider one of the element to mention in this.
@Cuong...absolutely NO eveidence has been found linking this crime to ANYONE's views on sexual orientation. You do not come up with a motive by elemenating motives that YOU think are viable...esepcially when all you know is what teh media has revealed. Since NOTHING has been revealed to connect the motive of this horrific crime to their sexual orientation, then constantly using it in the headlines is either for political reasons or to draw in readers...nothing more, and that is what people are upset about. Have you EVER seen a headline of an article that said "Brother of heterosexual teen...."...the answer is no, because the sexual orientation ahs no place in the headlines.
They acually treated the issue well in the article, just talking about them as a couple and how much they loved each other adn that is good, but focusing on her sexual orientation in the headlines is disrespectful to her and what she is going through.
Hmmm - if it was a boyfriend and girlfriend, would their romantic relationship NOT have been mentioned in the story? I find that hard to believe.
Because Portland is known as a safe place it could have been set up as a meeting place for something else that they happened upon and witnessed. I do not know if they ever said where in the head they were shot but that too could be a clue.
Get well soon and fight with all you have Kristin!
All the best. Hope she makes a full recovery.
I agree with carolart. These are young ladies. My prayers go out to their families. The families of these girls are dealing with enough and do not need the focus to be on these girls personal choices, by the media!! May God give all involved strength to get through this.
Terrible, terrible tragedy. I feel for both families and hope that who ever did this will be caught quickly. Absolutely senseless!
What a beautiful couple they were. This is so tragic.
if 30k plus people can donate over 500k for a grandmother to take a vacation, then i sincerely hope this girls family gets at least the same. Id also like to see some so called Christians who oppose gays put their money where their mouth is, and lend some support. If they ask themselves, "what would Jesus do", I think the clear answer is help someone in need and look past her sexual preference.
Jesus would tell them to repent and be baptised. Then go and sin no more.
PS How much support have you given?
@uck YOUR jesus!
*sshole
Responding to JackO and CWater - who are either of you to judge whether these 2 young women are sinners - ? Same-gender attraction is just something certain people are born with, like hair color, skin color, height. It is not a sin. Period.
CWater....wow, two innocent girls are brutally shot, one dead the other desperately hanging on to life...possibly because some sicko didnt like them being in love....and you say THEY need to repent...im betting if there was a god he would be much more offended by the takinng of one of his childrens lives and not their choice of lovers....people like you are the ones who twist your bible around to make it ok to be homophobic....if you really believe in god then you might want to consider taking your own advice...REPENT NOW
@David...you are being just as judgemental as the "so called Christians" you are attacking. How do you know many of them haven't given support already?
Excuse me but the Bible states that we are not to judge lest we be judged. After all, we are not perfect either.
Her immoral lifestyle apparently go to someone who did this terrible act . Such a shame that a beautiful girl chooses to be a Lesbian.
1) Your sentences don't really make sense.
2) Homosexuality is only "immoral" based upon religious "morality" which also condones killing disobedient children, incest, slavery and rape. All real moral codes generated by reason have no issue with homosexuality.
3) The shame is that she and her partner were attacked. That, and the absolute ignorance shown by you and your ilk, is the only tragedy here.
@Meeche:
No one "chooses" to be gay or lesbian. Did you choose to be hetoerosexual? I doubt it. You know who/waht you are, who you are attracted to. Get a grip and enter the 21st century! This certainly sounds like a hate crime. The perp(s) should DIE!
The true shame is that you choose to be a bigot at a time like this.
WOW...really She was brutally attacked in a HATEFUL violent act probably from someone who thinks they are morally Superior to them because they were BORN hetro. And this is the way you go...damn right wing wackos who think they are better then everyone else...and damn Texas for most who live there think this same way.....
And the gay bullies show their faces!
So now, you're an/the arbiter of all things moral and immoral? Give me a break. Get over yourself, you reactionary right-wing bigot.
Meeche-942560,
If God is so predisposed to heterosexuals, then why does she allow hermaphrodites to be born? And if you do you research (which I believe you have NEVER done), then you will realize that a significant number of babies are born with both sets of genitalia. Look up the probability and face the truth.
Now why do you suppose a 'heterosexuals only' god, a god so vehemently opposed to homosexuality, would allow that to happen?
Simple. Your ideas on god and morality are antiquated and obsolete, but more importantly, they are wrong.
You are not very bright obviously. Everything here is in response to a person who wrote inflammatory things on an article about a kid getting shot.
I'm pretty anti-religion. I would NEVER go onto a board about a christian being shot over his religion and say "He was obviously shot for his idiotic belief in christianity, shame he was a christian."
Seriously, how do you people live with yourselves?
Why is it that when religious people choose to pick at being homosexual they forget all the other "abominations" and "laws" in the bible? Very interesting to only point out the things God preaches that don't apply to you. What about trimming your beard found in Leviticus 19;27 or Do not sow your field with two kinds of seed; nor put on a garment made of two different materials least he be stoned (Lev 19:19 I know there is more regarding shell fish etc.
Point being when did you gain the almighty power to pick and choose which religious laws you needed to follow. Lord knows I only listed a few.
Meeche - to bad you choose to be an idiot
To be preyed upon when in a park is so scary...what is wrong with men today? such predators...If they were targeted because they were gay- that is vile and disgusting...if they were targeted because they were humans- that is disgusting too...just a vile act...I hope they find the animal that did this...what is our world coming too...?do we have to live in fear always? sad.
"...what is wrong with men today?"
How do you know a "man" shot them? Couldn't it possibly have been a scourned female lover that pulled the trigger? Don't jump to conclussions or post your unsubstantiated, stereotypical views.
So uneducated...
You are going to look stupid if it turns out to be another lesbian that shot them.
"what is wrong with men today?"
Did you drink too much man-bashing booze this morning? Cause you're comming across as being pretty stupid. It's even more scary that the world contains such people as you.
They were probably preyed upon because they are women. Men are slaughtering women and children in this country in record numbers. They are cowards that pick on those that cannot fight back...women, children, elderly. They get very little time in prison so they are out on the streets to do it all over again. Sexual orientation may not have anythng to do with it. They were easy targets. In my day women lived together out of necessity. Our salaries were half as much as males. Nowadays, if you live with a woman or even show affection in public...bigots love to assume that you are lesbian.
Re: the State of Texas. I moved here 12 years ago. The area where is live is full of bigots and they are all in church on Sunday morning. That's where they leave their "Christianity" so they can pick it up for an hour the next Sunday. I have heard there are areas in the state that are not bo bad, but haven't been there yet.
Their sexual orientation isn't really relevant to the story unless it becomes a reason for the shooting.
However, we are talking about 2 human beings with families and friends who love them. So regardless of sexual orientation, this shooting is tragic and sad and I hope they catch the person/people who did this and throw the book at him/her/them.
Stop pretending that being gay is anything to be ashamed of.. they gave out lots of irrelevant information.. such as the fact she was a teenager.... don't see you complaining about that.
Mewers there IS a difference between revealing someone's age and revealing their sexual orientation. While I agree that sexual orientation is not something to be ashamed of, unfortunately many in this society act as if it is and chastise those who are gay. Sexual orientation is a PRIVATE issue and one that the individual should reveal if he or she so chooses. If some of her own family does not yet know (her brother revealed he did not until the incident) then what gives the general public the right to know or the media the right to report it? I mean give me a break, someone is not likely to be discriminated against because they are an 18 year old girl, but they ARE likely to be discriminated against for their sexual orientation. Just because you or I don't do it doesn't mean their aren't many, many out there that do. I am of the opinion that information as private as this should not be made public knowledge without the individual's consent, especially when it is not a known factor in the shooting. This article just stripped this girl's right to privacy completely away. As much as you think sexual orientation should be a non-issue, unfortunately in our society that is not true.
Mewers......I'm not complaining. I stated a fact. Their sexual orientation is not relevant unless it's the reason for them being shot. I never said that being gay is anything to be ashamed of, nor did I say I had an issue with the fact that they are lesbians. Did you read the rest of my post?
Perhaps putting their sexual orientation into the story will serve as a warning to other homosexual couples in that area that there might be someone out there who's targeting them. If it is someone who's taken it upon his/herself to target same sex couples, it's probably a good thing to let people know that they should be cautious.
Just food for thought.
Aerdran, since we do not know at this time that it WAS directed towards their sexuality, Why only warn the gays/lesbians? Could have been other reasons such as they witnessed something that was not supposed to be seen such as a drug related incident.
If it were 50 years ago in Texas and a mixed-race couple had been executed by gunshots to the head, and there was no evidence of robbery or rape, it would be natural to assume that racism might be a motive.
In fact it would be a highly likely motive given the number of Southern Baptists in Texas.
"brother of shot lesbian" wtf kind of headline is that? who gives a crap what her sexual orientation was. frigging lowlife reporters will do anything for a headline. i'll pray for this poor girl and her family.
Totally agree with you john5651!
Was going to say the same thing, if this was a couple boy/girl would the headline read Brother of straight girl speaks out I don't think so
On a more spiritual level, at least her body is in no condition to resume that type of sin.
She should look at the bright side, now she has more time to reflect and repent.
Maybe this was a sent message to her to change her ways.
Better to suffer a little on earth than suffer for eternity in hell.
If all goes well hopefully she will be able to thank the peron who did this, ie. thanks for saving her soul.
(never be afraid to offend, when what you offend with is Biblical truth)
"biblical truth" is a joke. Your little book is clearly false. Nothing can be so inconsistent and include so many ridiculous assertions and still be true. The bible clearly fails under rational scrutiny.
Instead, those incapable of rational thought, such as yourself, cling to it in order to validate their pathetic lives and biases.
If 'god' sends a message to change ways then the bible belt isn't getting the clue (tornadoes, drought, firestorms, etc.).
...and so what message has been sent to all the boys raped from preists???? Christ i cant stand hateful right wing pricks who think they are better then everyone else....you know whats gonna be funny...when you all find out Jebus was gay.....LOL
And another idiot sticks his oar in...
Jack-O you are an idiot and wouldn't know "biblical" truth if it smacked you upside your head.
@Jack-O: You are one sick puppy. Shame on you.
Jack O....No wonder there is such a backlash against Christianity. Go read Romans 10:9,10 and show me where salvation has anything to do with sexual orientation. Try a little John 3:16 while you are at it, and some Romans 10:13.
Oh yes. I'm sure if someone walked up to you and your wife or girlfriend, put you in the hospital and your significant other in a grave, you'd be thankful to your attacker. Of course you would.
Wow.
Karl Marx got it right and said it best: Religion is the opiate of the masses.
Jack- O, You are a total a$$hole!!!!! Maybe your screen name should Jack- Off!!
Jack-O, I think that what you mean is...on a more Religious level.
On a spiritual level none of that stuff even matters.
Jack-O, it's judemental, self righteous people like yourself that make Christians look bad.
jack-o u are very sick person to say that what if it was ur child would u say that then, i agree with the person above u are a total a$$hole, u are someone with no heart.
Hey Jack, add "FF" after the "O" as it will help us to understand where you're coming from...
uknownance,
Never heard that before, yeah, you made a funny
Hey, just calling like it is, by the way I did get two votes, make that 3
Offensive is offensive. Ignorance is ignorance. Please be afraid to offend when you are ignorant.
All of you above need to repent, you take sin too lightly. According to God it is intolerable and so it should be for you!
Jack O.....Go read Matt 7:3-5.
lol... your god is clearly impotent, blind, an @!$%#, or not real. The condition of our world precludes your core beliefs.
It's really sad actually. Your entire being, core values, and identity are based on something not even real. Pathetic.
All of you are forgetting one thing:
When bad things happen in this fallen world it is because we asked for it. Not directly, but we inherited it from the fall of Adam and Eve.
God gave us free choice, but he first gave us the best of everything. When Eve ate from the tree of knowledge she in affect said to God I have experienced good but know I want to know evil. God granted her request and had to curse the earth in order to give that knowledge to her. Therefore, we now know what it is like to die, get cancer, lose a loved one, be crippled, blind and deaf, be obese or too thin, lose a limb, we now know what diseases are, feel pain, have a miscarriage, unable to comprehend and lose your love for GOD, and yes, lose two lesbians to violence.
WE ASKED FOR IT...........GET IT.................IT'S OUR FAULT...........GOD GAVE US EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED.............CAN'T MAKE IT ANY SIMPLER THAN THAT.
The good news is Christ came to change all that and make things the way they were before we screwed it up.
Therefore, REPENT, before it's too late.
JAFO, read it, like it, and did take the log out my own eye, that's why I can see and tell other to REPENT!
Who are you to say I need to repent? You don't know me. It's probably safe to say you don't know any of the people who you have just judged as sinners.
No, I do not need to repent. Yes, I believe in God. Yes, I do try to live my life the way I believe is right. I do not believe I, or any other human being, have the authority to judge as you have done.
Apparently your god is psycho. Who in their right mind would hold the decedents accountable for a relatives actions?! Based upon that logic all Germans should be tried for genocide of Jews. All Americans tried for Genocide of the native population! Your god is either irrational or nonexistent.
Plus we know the causes of natural disasters, and they are certainly not divine.
You are nuts. Totally nuts.
Ok, so why do christians still get cancer? I mean, if he abolishes all these bad things god gave us because we are bad then we should go back to paradise if we believe, right? Oh, I get it, you have to die first. Sure, that makes sense.
Obviously literal belief in religion is a mental disorder.
People, people, people, all these bad things will continue until Christ returns. Then all will be made right.
To ME, the very fact that you live your life the way you see fit is the very reason you need to repent. Your way of living, no matter how "good" or "right" is still filled with evil.
To EngEsq, you still don't get it so never mind.
Oh Jack-O....I had no clue that you were perfect. Taking the mote out of your eye is not a one-time event, my friend. Try a little 1 John 1:8. Also, try these on for size.....
Matt 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Stop trying to do God's job.
Jack-O, what do you mean by this? Kristene is still alive and functioning...or have you lost faith and given up hope for her so soon?
LMAO! Now you've decided my life is filled with evil. People like you are why I don't go to church. What is your religion? I won't bash it, I'm just curious.
To ME
Is your life perfect? Is what you do every second of every day perfect, if not then yes it is filled with wickedness. Hence, REPENT.
I repent, there is nothing wrong with doing that.
Read some of the negative posts towards me, the hatred, the name calling. Where have I called anyone a bad name. These posters are the haters. The Bible says that people who speak the truth will be percecuted. Look at John the baptist. I am saying the same things as he and he was treated the same for speaking the truth. The truth angers people as it angers you. Anger is a sin therefore you do have evil in your life like I said before.
JAFO,
When have I judged anyone? I am just stating the truth about sin, your sin, my sin, the girl's sin. These are the facts, when has stating the facts become judgemental. I am not condeming either, just saying REPENT, trying to show you the way to truth and forgiveness.
The fact is none of you want to be told what to do or how to do it, why? Because you think your way is the right way and forget God's way. That's why all of you post me with hatred undertones.
Thank you for the quick response. No, my life isn't perfect. I will share with you the kind of person I am, as I have been told by others - I am respectful, courteous, understanding and open minded. I am laid back and easy going. I spend every day trying to be a better person than I was the day before.
I'm not angry with you. I don't get angry. Anger and hate just eat away at people and it causes misery. See? There you go judging me again.
I will agree that there is nothing wrong with repenting. I have done it myself. And yes, I did see the negative posts. That's just how some people deal with things.
To ME,
Peace and God bless you
Thank you and right back at ya! I apologize for judging you as judgemental and self righteous. I sometimes slip up and for me that was a major slip.
I hope what you take away from all this is that you can't decide a person is bad just from one thing they said or any one behaviour.
I'm very proud of who I am and whom I love. Mylife partner and i dont allow judmental people bring us down. I get gay bashed often, and its very sad people are so quick to judge and hate me just because I love differently. Im very kind hearted, I was raised religious. I feel that god is happy with the way I live mylife because im living and loving! I'm not affraid to hold my girlfriends hand in public, if its ok for male and female, then its ok for us. I dont judge others on there relationships, there is no reason for others to judge me because of mine! We are all gods children.
@Jack-O.....many of your points about sin and immorality and our need for Jesus and repentence are very true.....however..YOU are very wrong. During a discussion of a tragedy such as this is not the time to try and beat people of the head with the Bible. This is NOT showing God's love and will in no way ever turn someone towards him....it will mostly drive people away from God.
In Ecclesiastes 3 it says
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:.....
....3b a time to tear down and a time to build,
....7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace."
This is NOT the time to be pointing out people's sins or telling them how wrong their lifestyle is. This is the time to be showing love and compassion...no matter where they are in life. We (and NBC) should not be focusing on her sexual orientation, but on the horrificness of this tragedy and what we may be able to do to help. I, personally, will be praying for peace for both families as they come to grips with this horrible event.
I will also be praying for you, that God will show you how to focus more on God's love in your dealing with others.
"Look at John the baptist. I am saying the same things as he and he was treated the same for speaking the truth."
Now you're putting yourself on a level with John the Baptist?!? Your arrogance is beyond belief. I dare say that you have NOT been treated in the same way as JtB since you're still alive and haven't (yet) been put to death by those who disagree with you. The fact is that you have no idea of what religious persecution was like in JtB's time and you certainly haven't experienced same, so get over yourself. To quote the ancient Greek philosopher Aesop, "Self-conceit leads to self-destruction."
Why didn't he deal with it the first time around? Face it, your belief system is totally full of holes. I bet my life is far better than yours, and yet I'm a 'heretic'. Lol.
Jack-Off sounds like a Southern Baptist.
Jersey jeff with that attitude you could be considered dangerous yourself.
Oh...I get it Severed Head....Uncle Henry IS a troll :)~~
I really am happy to have an update on her condition. Hopefully she will fully recovery from her injury. I also hope she is able to identify the f-er who committed this horrible crime.
I hate this headline. Putting these labels on people just seems to make bad situations worse. I hope this young woman continues her physical recovery. The emotional recovery may never come.
I feel so sorry for the families of these two girls but would a hetro couple have made the news like this?
Really depends. If it looked like they were targeted due to their sex (i.e. shot once in the head in Castro in San Francisco during a pride parade for example) then probably.
Nope. We are a gay oriented society.
My condolences to the families and loved ones of these girls. Speedy recovery for Kristine.
CWater, watch the generalizations there Gunsmoke! After we learn to get along then perhaps we can figure this thing out ... along with a whole lot of issues that are even more vital to humankind.
NO
This man is apparently not familiar with the history of hate crimes in Texas. I mean, just recently... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_James_Byrd,_Jr. or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Harris_County,_Texas_hate_crime_assault or http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2012/03/29/71-year-old-north-texas-woman-charged-with-hate-crime/ to name a few of the many.
Please DO NOT believe that all Texans are murderous, unprincipled bigots hooked on Faux News, switching from white hoods and cross-burning on Saturday night to their Sunday best for church services.
Not all Texans wear girlie Spandex, worship guns and behave like Ted Nugent.
Unfortunately we have bigots everywhere. And also good people. Must say however, after moving from a blue state to a red one I think there is far less tolerance where I am now. However, I have a limited sample, so it might just be my current town.
No, not all. Just an overwhelming majority of those that vote--as evidenced by its elected officials and horrific policies with respect to healthcare, sexual education, contraceptives, execution, incarceration, etc...
I agree- Wright is a douchebag. What can we expect from a state the produced both W and Perry?