Same-sex teen couple shot in South Texas park

[TexasTowelie]

Police have not yet made any arrests in the weekend shooting of two south Texas teens at a Portland park. According to CBS affiliate KZTV, two visitors to the Violet Andrews Park found the women's bodies lying in the grass. Mollie Judith Olgin,19, was pronounced dead at the scene and her apparent girlfriend, 18-year-old Mary Christine Chapa, was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the head. Chapa was reportedly listed in serious but stable condition. KZTV reports investigators believe they teens were shot around midnight on Friday. They were found about 9 hours later Saturday morning. According to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, police say the women likely walked with their attacker down a trail and into knee deep grass. This is where authorities believe they were shot with a large caliber handgun. Friends of the women said the two had been dating for about five months, KZTV reports. Investigators reportedly do not believe this was a random incident but have not named a potential motive.



Above: Mary Christine Chapa (left) and Mollie Judith Olgin

http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-504083_162-10012747-2.html

More extensive coverage at http://www.kztv10.com/full-coverage/teens-found-shot-in-portland/

[sonias]

1. Hate crime

You have to know it in your gut.

Two young lives lost in the name of hate. So tragic.

[white cloud]

2. And what type person

would do this?

[sonias]

6. A very sick person

Hopefully the culprit or culprits will be found and brought to justice.

[onestepforward]

3. I hope they quickly catch the person who did this.

I'm beyond words... (( sigh))

[silverlib]

4. Mollie was one of my granddaughter's best friends.

She was in the top 10% of her class in high school, a member of the National Honor Society, a section leader in the high school band. Her smile lit up a room, and even though she was open in a small, conservative town, people who knew her, including my daughter who taught one of her high school classes, loved her. Of course, neither my daughter or my granddaughter had a problem with her sexuality. She was a kind and wonderful individual.

A Facebook site featuring one of the many events planned by the LGBT community across the country is featured here.

https://www.facebook.com/events/353276251410473/

I am amazed at the response from the this community and the grace by which they are handling this sensitive situation. It is not known whether this was a murder and assault targeted for sexuality and the gay community has been very careful not to say that it was, leaving this conclusion until after the investigation has been completed.

Silverlib - hometown - Ingleside, Texas

[sonias]

5. Sorry to hear that silverlib

My condolences to your granddaughter as well as Molly's family.

I know what you mean about being careful not to frame this as a crime against gay people. I would like to think it wasn't about LGBT issues and I hope I'm wrong. Either way both deaths at such a young age are tragic.

[TexasTowelie]

7. My sympathies for your granddaughter and the family and friends of both of these young women.

I don't want to jump to any conclusions about this incident either, but I will be surprised if the women weren't targeted because of their sexual orientation. The bigotry and hatred needs to stop, regardless.

to those affected.

P.S. It's been about 30 years since I last went to Ingleside (I grew up in George West). One of my friends was the former math teacher (Dolly Crawford) and I heard that she passed away. Do you know if that is correct?

[silverlib]

9. Yes, Dolly passed away...

It's been several years. She was a GREAT teacher. I had her her first year - Geometry. She made a lasting and wonderful impact on all of her students. I'm sorry you didn't know sooner.

I'm really not sure how a "hate crime" will be defined in this case. My understanding is that the investigation is leaning more towards a crime of passion. Here's an article in the Washington Post that went up just a few minutes ago, which looks to back up this rumor. It's just so sad, and regardless, I hope her memory is inclusive in the opening minds and hearts of a very conservative area. She was accepted by most in the community, which goes to show what an amazing young lady she was, to be able to do so. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/gay-rights-groups-call-for-thorough-investigation-in-shooting-of-texas-teen-girlfriends/2012/06/27/gJQAEoGn7V_story.html

[Paladin]

8. Time To Hit The Ramparts Again, Folks.

As of yesterday, there was a thread in LBN about this unspeakable incident---and the State of Texas was being blamed for it. Texas hatred is alive and well here at DU, and it needs to be confronted. Those poor girls......

[sonias]

11. Mary Kristene Chapa, Shot In Head, Helping Police Find Suspect Who Killed Her Girlfriend

Huffington Post 7/16/12

Mary Kristene Chapa, Shot In Head, Helping Police Find Suspect Who Killed Her Girlfriend

An 18-year-old girl is helping police hunt for the man who shot her in the head and murdered her girlfriend at a Texas park last month.

Mary Kristene Chapa is still recovering in a hospital bed from brain injuries sustained in the shooting, but she's managed to help police refine their sketch of the suspect who killed her girlfriend, 19-year-old Mollie Judith Olgin, ABC News reports.


"She wants very badly to help us identify Mollie's murderer," Portland, Texas, Police Department Chief Randy Wright told ABC News. "Our eyewitness sustained a brain injury that initially affected her ability to communicate effectively. The good news is she has made exceptional progress. Her sight and speech have improved and she can now interact with the artist much better."

I hope the sketch Mary Kristene Chapa is helping with catches this criminal.