Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Miami Herald
FORT LAUDERDALE - The shooting death of a gay teenage boy who was dressed in women's clothing is being investigated as a possible hate crime, while detectives try to determine whether he was targeted because of his sexual orientation.
Simmie L. Williams spent much of Thursday looking after his 1-year-old nephew, Jamar. He cooked dinner for his mom and told her he was going out to meet some friends.
Denise King said goodbye to her son -- for the last time.
Shortly after 1 a.m. Friday, King's daughter received a call from the hospital.
Williams, 17, had been shot dead at the corner of Sistrunk Boulevard (Northwest Sixth Street) and 10th Avenue.
The circumstances of the killing -- the victim was wearing women's clothes and gunned down in a neighborhood known for transvestite prostitution -- shocked his mother and left police scrambling to find his killer.
It is believed that Williams, who also went by the names Chris and Beyoncé, was involved in an argument with two men, both dressed in black, said Detective Kathy Collins, a Fort Lauderdale police spokeswoman.
People nearby heard gunshots and saw the men run off.
Williams' mother said her son was openly gay, but she didn't know what he did when he went out at night, and she didn't know he wore women's clothes.
"We're looking into the possibility of a hate crime. There were some words exchanged prior to the shooting," said Collins. She would not elaborate on what was said before Williams was killed.
Any case where investigators or prosecutors determine that a victim was targeted based on race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, mental or physical disability or advanced age can be deemed a hate crime. The label adds extra time to criminal sentences, upon conviction.
The corner where Williams was found is a popular hang-out for transgender prostitutes, police and residents said.
Full article: Gay teen shot dead while dressed as woman in Fort Lauderdale -- South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Teenage boy dressed as woman shot dead | Miami Herald