Two Puerto Rican men have pleaded guilty to federal charges of assault and obstruction of justice in connection with the assault of Alexa Negrón Luciano, a transgender woman who was later murdered. The Department of Justice announced that Jordany Rafael Laboy-Garcia and Christian Yamaurie Rivera-Otero admitted to their involvement in the hate crime conspiracy. Another suspect, Anthony Steven Lobos-Ruiz, had previously pleaded guilty to committing a hate crime and has been sentenced to prison.
The tragic incident occurred on February 24, 2020, when Luciano, who was facing homelessness, experienced harassment and threats after being falsely accused of using a mirror to spy on others at a McDonald’s bathroom in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. Despite no evidence to support the accusations, social media posts began circulating, naming Luciano and sharing transphobic comments.
Laboy-Garcia, Rivera-Otero, and Lobos-Ruiz encountered Luciano shortly after midnight on that fateful night. They recognized her from the social media posts and subjected her to verbal harassment, recording a video of themselves shouting derogatory comments. They then obtained a paintball gun and returned to where they had seen Luciano, with Lobos-Ruiz recording Laboy-Garcia shooting her multiple times with paintballs. Hours later, Luciano was shot and killed, with the murder video circulating on social media.
Initial reports described Luciano as a man dressed as a woman, causing widespread outrage. Puerto Rican reggaeton star Bad Bunny even wore a shirt on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that read They killed Alexa…Not a man in a skirt in Spanish.
The sentencing hearings for Laboy-Garcia and Rivera-Otero are scheduled for November 10. However, the police have yet to charge anyone in connection with Luciano’s murder. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for any information leading to the indictment and arrest of individuals involved in the crime.
This case highlights the ongoing violence and discrimination faced by transgender individuals around the world. The assault and murder of Alexa Negrón Luciano serve as a tragic reminder of the importance of combating hate crimes and creating a more inclusive and accepting society.
