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New York|Killing of Transgender Man Is Not Ruled a Hate Crime, Investigators Say
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/17/nyregion/sam-norquist-killing-transgender-hate-crime.html
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Law enforcement officials in upstate New York say that the torture and killing of Sam Norquist, 24, did not appear to be a hate crime.
Feb. 17, 2025, 3:59 p.m. ET
Investigators have found no evidence that the torture and killing of a transgender man whose remains were found in a field in upstate New York last week was a hate crime, law enforcement officials said.
Law enforcement officials said on Sunday that some or all of the five people charged with murder in connection with the killing were themselves members of L.G.B.T.Q. communities.
The man, Sam Norquist, 24, knew the people suspected in his killing, and at least one had lived with him in a motel, according to a statement released by the New York State Police and James Ritts, the Ontario County district attorney.
“We urge the community not to speculate into the motive behind the murder as we work to find justice for Sam,” the statement said. “At this time, we have no indication that Sam’s murder was a hate crime.”
The announcement last week of Mr. Norquist’s brutal death, which one police officer said at a news conference was “one of the most horrific crimes I have ever investigated,” was followed by a flood of questions about whether he was targeted because he was transgender, Mr. Ritts and the State Police said on Sunday. “We share the community’s shock at such a heinous act of violence and understand the fear circulating among members of the L.G.B.T.Q.+ community,” the statement said. “We remain focused on holding these individuals accountable and will continue to work tirelessly to complete the investigation into Sam’s murder.”
On Sunday, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York said she had instructed several state agencies, including the Hate and Bias Prevention Unit of the New York State Division of Human Rights, to assist in the investigation.
