In Puerto Rico, Juan José MartÃnez Matos has pled guilty for the brutal murder of gay teenager Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado that occurred last November, EDGE Boston reported. Matos—who had been charged with stabbing Mercado to death before decapitating, dismembering and burning his body—had been scheduled to go on trial May 17.
Judge Miriam Camila Jusino immediately sentenced Matos to 99 years in prison.
Mercado’s father, Jorge Lopez, tearfully said, “I want to send a message to Juan (Casper) and tell him there is hope in Christ. The lord has forgiveness for him, Irregardless of what has happened. God has a plan for him if he opens his heart to Christ. God will forgive him also.”
Across the United States, thousands of people held marches and vigils during the days after Mercado’s death. In Chicago, a vigil was held Nov. 22; Representatives from Amigas Latinas, UNID@S, Young Women’s Empowerment Project, La Casa Norte, Orgullo en Accion, Vida/SIDA, Boricua PRIDE and the Association of Latino Men for Action (ALMA) were at the event, among others. In addition, politicians such as state Rep. Greg Harris and Cook County State’s Attorney LGBTQ Liaison Vernita Gray spoke. (The main organizers were Juan Calderon of VIDA/SIDA; Jorge Felix of Boricua PRIDE; Ruben D. Feliciano of ALMA and Boricua PRIDE; and Ed Negron of Orgullo en Accion.)
The Chicago City Council adopted a resolution Dec. 2 regarding Mercado. The resolution, signed by Aldermen Manny Flores and Tom Tunney, called for, among other things, the council’s Committee on Human Relations to conduct a study of homophobic and transphobic hate crimes in Chicago.