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Was Shavado’s Death a Hate Crime?

In what some are calling a hate crime, it is suspected that the young man who was brutally gunned down execution-style may have been killed for allegedly just being gay.

Police originally thought the motive for the crime was robbery but admit they are exploring other avenues.

Shavado Simmons, 20, and a friend were making their way home from a convenience store, off Charles W Saunders highway, when they were approached by an armed man.

The two young men escaped by running to a nearby apartment building, but the robber followed them and kicked in the door.

The gunman ordered the pair to lie on the floor and then shot Shavado but did not harm the other man.

This unusual set of circumstances leads police to believe that it may have been more than a robbery.

A local newspaper reports that several concerned people have said Shavado’s death may have been a hate crime, related to his alleged alternative lifestyle.

Friends and family say Shavado, also known as Elmo, was a “quiet young man who never bothered anyone.”

One person told the Tribune that, “this should be a wake up call for everyone. If it can happen to someone as nice as Elmo, it can happen to anyone.”

Persons with information on this crime should contact the police.

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