FL -Illegal murders transgender

A man whom friends say identified and lived as a woman was shot and killed outside a restaurant that police say was illegally operating as a nightclub. Police are not investigating the murder as a hate crime. Oscar Mosqueda, 34, was shot in the head early July 29 in the parking lot of Pasta Amore, a local restaurant hosting “Disco Garibaldi,” one of four club nights held at the restaurant. Mosqueda died at Halifax Hospital several hours later. Villazano told police that following an argument with Mosqueda outside the club, he fired a handgun two times in the air before pointing it at Mosqueda and firing once more, hitting the victim on the right side of his head. Villazano, who has two outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court on charges of driving without a valid license, also told police he is in the U.S. illegally. He has been charged with second-degree murder and is being held without bail.According to news reports, police arriving on the scene thought Mosqueda was a woman because he was wearing high heels and a mini-skirt the night of the shooting. Equality Florida spokesman Brian Winfield said the victim’s friends told him that Mosqueda identified as Thalia and was transitioning to become a woman. “The majority of the females who attend the club are transgender,” he said. “What seems clear was that this was a hateful attack on a member of the trans community, a group that is already victims of various forms of discrimination across the board. We will continue to gather information from the community and work to ensure this case is properly investigated and that appropriate charges are brought,” said Winfield. “We will not allow yet another brutal murder apparently spurred by bigotry to go ignored. We think this is an opportunity to focus on the fact that transgender people are not included in Florida’s hate crimes statute. This is proof positive for adding gender identity and expression to Florida’s hate crimes statute.” Two men have been charged in connection with the killing. According to police reports, Mosqueda was shot by Cesar Villazano, 18, who told police he wasn’t gay and was very upset because the victim grabbed his penis in the club and embarrassed him.