Neulisa Luciano Ruiz , also known as Alexa, 
Alexa was shot and killed in the early morning
of February 25. (GFR Average)

Three men charged with hate crimes for shooting transgender woman with a paintball gun who was later found dead

" Her name was Alexa"

By Edward Era Barbacena

SAN JUAN ( Puerto Rico)  – Three men have been charged with hate crimes after being accused of using a paintball gun to shoot at a transgender woman in Puerto Rico who was later found dead, federal authorities said Friday.

The three young people arrested this morning in relation to the case of Neulisa Luciano Ruiz , also known as Alexa, 

A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging three men, identified as Jordany Rafael Laboy García, Christian Yamaurie Rivera Otero, and Anthony Steven Lobos Ruiz with hate crimes for assaulting a transgender woman because of her gender identity, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The three men arrested  on Friday, were not charged with the murder of the trans woman, but they do face charges of committing a hate crime and conspiracy to commit a hate crime. Meanwhile, Lobos Ruiz and Rivera Otero also face a third count of obstruction of justice for allegedly destroying evidence.

The indictment alleges that on Feb. 24, 2020, Laboy García, Rivera Otero, and Lobos Ruiz were traveling in a car when they recognized the victim on the side of the road in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.

According to the indictment, the conspirators recognized the victim from social media posts previously identifying her as a man who entered the women’s restroom at a local restaurant. After identifying her, Laboy García, Rivera Otero and Lobos Ruiz verbally harassed her, court records state.

The three men then drove to get a paintball gun and paintballs to be used to shoot at the victim. The men returned to the same place where they had spotted the victim and fired paintballs at her. During both encounters, the men used a cell phone to record their actions, according to court records.

The indictment further alleges that after the alleged assault, Rivera Otero directed Lobos Ruiz to delete at least one video recording of the paintball gun assault and verbal harassment of the victim from his cellular phone, and that Lobos Ruiz, in response, did so.

"Su nombre era Alexa"
"Her name was Alexa"

If found guilty, Lobos Ruiz, Laboy García and Rivera Otero could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $ 250,000 for the conspiracy charge, and up to 10 years of confinement and fines of up to $ 250,000 for the hate crime charge. .