Women's shootings not seen as hate crime

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PORTLAND, Texas, June 27 (UPI) -- Police in Texas say a lesbian couple shot during the weekend, killing one of the women, do not appear to have been targeted because of their relationship.

Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, of Ingleside, Texas, died at the scene of the shooting in Violet Andrews Park in Portland, a Gulf Coast town north of Corpus Christi, The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reported. It was the first homicide in Portland this year.

The other victim, Mary Christine Chapa, 18, was listed in stable condition at a hospital.

Both victims were found Saturday morning by park visitors.

"There's no evidence to suggest that this crime was committed as a bias against the girls or their lifestyle," Portland Police Chief Randy Wright said.

The Human Rights Campaign and Equality Texas said in a joint statement Tuesday they had urged the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI and Portland police to conduct a thorough investigation.

"Regardless of the motivation behind this tragedy, we must send a strong message that violence against anyone is never acceptable," Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin said in the statement. "We have reached out to law enforcement officials at both the federal and local level and hope to see a thorough investigation. These women, and all victims of violent crimes, deserve nothing less."

Equality Texas plans a candlelight walk and vigil Friday at Violet Andrews Park and activists also planned vigils for the two victims in San Francisco and Washington.

Wright said a resident reported hearing two loud bangs just before midnight Friday night. The Caller-Times said it is believed the girls were walked down a trail into knee-deep grass and shot with a high-caliber weapon.