Update on murder of Puerto Rican teen

Judge Miriam Camila ruled against confessed murderer Juan Martinez of Puerto Rico, citing that he is competent for trial after psychologist Rafael Cabrera reported his analysis of Martinez. He will be prosecuted under Puerto Rico’s hate crimes laws. Martinez admitted to the murder of Puerto Rican drag queen Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado, 19, on November 13 and blamed it on a "gay panic."

Currently the Puerto Rican gay community has been mobilizing for a response from Puerto Rican governor Luic Fortuno who has remained mummed by the crime. The mobilization has reached to New York City where Christine Quinn, the Speaker of the City Council, blasted the governor for his silence.

Several lawmakers will convene in the next several days in Puerto Rico to address the murder of Mercado and urge the governor to break his silence.