Same-Sex Teen Couple Shot: Police say no evidence that "bias" was the motive

By: Julia Dahl
Topics: Daily Blotter

Mary Christine Chapa (left) and Mollie Judith Olgin are seen here in this undated personal photo

/ Personal photo

(CBS) PORTLAND, Texas - The police investigating the shooting of a same-sex couple in a Texas park over the weekend announced Tuesday that they do not believe the teenage girls were targeted because of their relationship.

Pictures: Same-sex teen couple shot in South Texas park

"A motive in this case has not been established," said Portland Police Chief Randy Wright in a statement released Tuesday.

Mollie Judith Olgin, 19, and Mary Kristene Chapa, 18, were found lying in a grassy area of a Portland park around 9 a.m. Saturday morning. Both had been shot and Olgin was pronounced dead at the scene, but Chapa, who was shot in the head, was still alive. She was transferred to the hospital and is now in stable condition, according to the statement.

"Information from family and friends indicates that Mollie and Mary were engaged in a same-sex relationship," Wright said in the statement.

However, Wright told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times that there is "no evidence to suggest that this crime was committed as a bias against the girls or their lifestyle."

Chapa has not yet been formally interviewed about the crime because of her condition, the statement said.

The statement also revealed that a large caliber shell casing was found near where the young women were discovered, and that two witnesses reported hearing what they thought were either gunshots or firecrackers just before midnight on Friday, June 22.

More on Crimesider
June 25, 2012: Teen female couple shot in South Texas park, one dead, police say

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Same-sex teen couple shot in South Texas park

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by dman6015 June 27, 2012 1:24 PM EDT: "A motive in this case has not been established". So how do you conclude that they weren't targeted because of their relationship? Are you guessing or just not telling the public everything you know (yes, I realize police do this to help capture/confirm suspects)?; Reply to this comment


by guyfrompa46 June 27, 2012 12:51 PM EDT: And exacly how do they come to that conclusion without any suspects?; Reply to this comment


by talis4 June 27, 2012 12:49 PM EDT: Wright told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times that there is "no evidence to suggest that this crime was committed as a bias against the girls or their lifestyle."
Come on folks this is texas. When have you ever heard of good old boy, christian, redneck right wing morons being intolerant? From what I understand they love the baby jesus.; Reply to this comment