One member of a teenage lesbian couple is dead and the other is in serious but stable condition after the pair were found shot in the head in a park outside Corpus Christi over the weekend, according to news reports.
Nineteen-year-old Mollie Judith Olgin was found dead, and 18-year-old Mary Christine Chapa was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery and is now stable and able to communicate.
Olgin and Chapa, who had been together for five months, were found by visitors to Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas, at about 9 a.m. Saturday. Their bodies were in tall grass beneath a scenic overlook deck, both with gunshot wounds to the head from a large-caliber handgun.
Police believe the shooting happened at about midnight Friday, but they have no suspects or motive. Portland Police Chief Randy Wright told MSNBC that investigators believe the shootings were committed by a third party but are unsure whether they are related to the girls’ sexual orientation.
“That’s always something that we’re looking for, but as of this point, we have not been able to establish that that had anything to do with the attack,” Wright said.
However, Wright added that it appears “this was not just a random attack but that’s something that we really have to develop over time.” And he told KRISTV that the attack “does have some of the earmarks of a targeted attack.”
Watch MSNBC’s report below.
UPDATE: A candle-lit walk is scheduled for Friday in the park “in memory of Mollie Olgin and to keep Kristene Chapa in prayers for a speedy yet well recovery. Vigils are also planned in San Francisco organized by Cleve Jones and in Washington, D.C.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
This happened in my home town. “Live and let live” is not something that is taught in the schools there. You either conform, or else you are beaten/bullied into submission (or killed, as is the case here). There are worse places to live, but not many. I feel sad for these young ladies, their friends and families. I feel even sadder that the local residents just don’t care. It is regretful that it took a loss of life to put Portland, TX on the map as the most hateful, most hate filled city in Texas.
The gay community in Portland, Texas has proudly grown over the past ten years. Though, I am sure members of it are still bullied and do not feel fully accepted by all of their peers, these past years have seen a growing of the community in numbers and pride. This truly comes as a shock to everyone in the town and will hopefully open the doors to discussion on the topics of hate, discrimination and sexuality if it is found that these crimes were motivated by such. My heart goes out to the families and friends of the victims.
Sad on so many levels. A young beautiful life cut so short and the saddest part of all is they will get away with it to do it again. Because no matter what those fucked up rednecks say….they don’t really give a shit.
Welcome, everyone, to the redneck Republican hellhole otherwise known as Texas. Please keep your hands and legs inside the car when you pass through a tiny, but murderous Texas town run by fat-ass, bigoted crackers.
So many people living out their prejudiced beliefs posting here. When this plays out and it’s not a bias crime, will you look at your own hateful beliefs?
“Some of the earmarks of a targeted attack?” What tipped you off-that they were shot in the head in a secluded area, Colombo? Really? Let’s call it what it was-an execution by a homophobic murderer.
Every bigoted Rethuglican politician in Texas shares the blame for this crime and should be prosecuted for it.
Sallyb, when this plays out and it is proven to be a hate crime, will you look back at your hateful beliefs?
Ok. I’m a 2012 Senior just recently graduated. If you don’t live here, it’d be best if you kept your ignorant mouths shut. If you walked amongst the Gregory-Portland High School hallways, you’d find that girl couples, and boy couples are feeling more comfortable holding hands and kissing than the average boy-girl couple. The town of Portland is greatly saddened and in fear from this homicide knowing a friend is gone, and a killer is on the loose. I will not defend the cops here because this is a small town where nothing really happens… So I don’t know how “well” they will investigate. However, A lot of people are definately sad considering this Friday there will be a Candle Lighting for the girls. There will also be one in Washington and San Francisco. So a lot more people care than you ignorant people think. I used to work with Mollie and she was as bright as her hair was blonde! (On her good days) Before any of you start judging us as “hicks who ride horses” you should know that horses are out dated and not all of us talk like a fucking cowboy asshole. Grow up and do some research. Maybe some of you won’t be so ignorant anymore.
To Eseban Ayanes: Fuck you bitch, I live in texas, and more importantly the town of Portland, Texas where this crime took place. All I have to say to you is that I am NO fucking redneck and I SURE AS FUCK am not a fucking homophobic republican peice of shit. I didn’t know this girl, but I work in the pizza hut just next door to the taco bell she worked at and it is shocking to think that something like this could happen in this humble little town. Texas is not a racist, homophobic or religiously opressive state, just some of the stupid, narrow-minded people in it. Narrow-minded people like YOU. So until you decide to spend even a day in this place and see what it is really like, SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH.
SMH… Who ever did it will pay on judgment day!! I Hope their punished on Earth as well!!
@Sallyb: sounds like you have some inside information since you speak so authoritatively about this crime. It almost seems like you were there when it happened, or else you got a first hand account from the perpetrators. Whatever. It doesn’t change the character of Portland, Texas, be it the past or the present.
Tiff, Zachary Jones, thank you for standing up for the real victims here: The people who are insulted by anger at a bigoted society. I give you further kudos for ignoring the first person to post here. When he said “This happened in my home town. “Live and let live” is not something that is taught in the schools there. You either conform, or else you are beaten/bullied into submission (or killed, as is the case here).”, it was clear that his viewpoint could be safely dismissed while you browbeat commenters who haven’t lived there.
After all, people from Portland, TX are a sadly oppressed minority. They can’t marry the people whom they choose, their sexual activity and love is widely seen as disgusting, they are routinely shunned by churches and the religious, they lack many legal rights enjoyed by non-Portlanders, and this shameful treatment has led to a greater rate of depression, drug abuse, and even suicide among Portland teenagers.
“thank you for standing up for the real victims here: The people who are insulted by anger at a bigoted society.”
Err I think you’ll find the real victims are the two women who were shot.