Who Was Responsible For The Killing Of Matthew Shepard

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in Laramie, Wyoming 1998 the world’s most famous gay murder was committed. Everyone who was looking at the news, and at the time everyone knew that the victim (Matthew Shepard) was killed because of his sexuality. Now with the latest information that has surfaced over the years more people are asking questions. Was Matthew Shepard killed because he was a homosexual? Matthew Shepard at 21 years of age, was a student of the University of Wyoming. He was found tied to fence on the outside of Laramie. He was freezing and bleeding to death. He had been beaten to the point where his brain stem was completely crushed. In addition, the perpetrators took his shoes to make sure if he got free he couldn’t walk to safety. The reason of his death …show more content…

Ryan Bopp, shared with "20/20 ABC" that McKinney had been on a meth binge with himself in the days leading to the attack. Bopp said, "Aaron and I had been awake for about a week or so prior to this whole thing happening “. "We were on a hard-core bender that week". He then shares that soon before the killing he was so in need for meth, he gave a .357-Magnum pistol to McKinney for one gram of meth. Aaron later used that gun to beat Matt. Rick Rawson, a UCLA professor who studies the connection between violence and meth, informs "20/20 ABC" that meth can trigger episodes of violent behavior. "In the first weeks after you've stopped using it, the kinds of triggers that can set off an episode are completely unpredictable”. He also says how “It can be: you say a word with the wrong inflection, you touch someone on the shoulder. It's completely unpredictable as to what will set somebody off”. All these contributing factors help prove that Matt’s homosexuality was not the driving cause of Matt’s …show more content…

O'Connor shares that McKinney never shared or said any homophobic thoughts around him. In a Vargas interview, O'Connor says McKinney isn’t straight but bisexual. "I know of an instance where he had a three-way, two guys and one gal, because he did it with me." O'Connor continued, "I know he's bisexual. There ain't no doubt in my mind. He is bisexual”. James Ferris another Laramie resident also shares that “Matthew was having sex with McKinney… for the exchange of drugs” (Jimenez 360). Kristen Price says she believes it as well. She believed this because "He was always into trying to talk [her] into having a three-way with one of his guy friends," (Kristen Price). With Aaron McKinney not being straight himself there is no reason for him to kill Matthew because of his

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