Murder in Greeley: Trans-Panic

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today issued a statement on the murder of Angie Zapata and arrest of her alleged killer, Allen Ray Andrade in Greeley, Colorado. Andrade has been charged with first-degree murder and a hate crime in the case.

“The murder of Angie Zapata, just 18 years old, is a tragic reminder of the hate and ignorance that threatens the transgender community every day,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Even worse is that Angie’s alleged killer is using her gender identity in an attempt to justify his heinous, inexcusable actions. The shameful ‘trans panic’ defense is nothing more than a scurrilous attempt to blame the victim for this horrible crime.”

“The sheer brutality of Angie's murder—the way her killer viewed her as less than human simply because of her gender identity and expression—highlights our community's desperate need for hate crimes protection,” said Allyson Robinson, HRC Associate Director of Diversity. “As a transgender woman, I am horrified by this crime, but as human beings, we should all be outraged.”

Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck said Thursday his office has filed first-degree murder charges in the Angie Zapata case. The suspect, Allen Ray Andrade, 32, of Thornton, will also be charged with a hate crime. This will be the first murder in Weld County charged as a hate crime. Buck said the bias-connected charges have been filed before in other crimes in Weld, but not a murder. The hate crime addition adds another felony charged against Andrade, and could result in a more severe penalty.

“We are grateful that Weld County is properly pursuing the hate crime charge, and hope that strict enforcement of Colorado’s hate crime law continues,” said Solmonese.

Family of murdered Greeley transgender woman applauds hate-crime charges

The Colorado Anti-Violence Program (CAVP) applauds Weld County District Attorney, Kenneth Buck, prosecutors and law enforcement for filing hate crime charges against 31-year-old Allen Ray Andrade in the beating death of 18-year-old Latina transgender woman, Angie Zapata.

The Zapata family expressed their relief that both first degree murder and hate crime charges have been filed. Angie's sister, Monica Murguia, added, "Unfortunately, it's not getting any easier. I thought we'd be done after we buried my sister. It feels like we have to relive it every day."

"It seemed apparent from the information provided to the public that the factual scenario surrounding the vicious murder of Angie Zapata fell clearly within the language of Colorado's bias-motivated crime statute," said Mindy Barton, Legal Director at The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of Colorado. "The support of law enforcement has been key in the expansion of hate crime legislation to include sexual orientation and gender identity. It is vitally important that the suspect is now formally charged with a hate crime as it shows the Weld County District Attorney's Office and the Greeley Police Department are strongly committed to enforcing this law."

"The bias-crime designation sends a message to not only lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities, but also the greater Greeley and Colorado communities that this type of violence is not acceptable," said Kelly Costello, Director of Victim Services at CAVP. "This is vital in ensuring accountability and validating the concern and fear of community members."

The Zapata family has been astonished by the support of family, friends, local and statewide community members and organizations. Many have been instrumental in rallying people together to honor Angie's life and to raise awareness of how violence impacts transgender people.

Colorado's Bias-Motivated Crimes statute "finds and declares that it is the right of every person, regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation to be secure and protected from fear, intimidation, harassment, and physical harm caused by the activities of individuals and groups." Sexual orientation is further defined as "a person's actual or perceived orientation toward heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or transgender status." The statute was revised in 2005 to include physical or mental disability and sexual orientation.