Police say Texas teenagers Mary Kristene Chapa and Mollie Judith Olgin, who were in a relationship, were shot execution style with a large-caliber gun in a park on Friday night and were found approximately nine hours later. Vigils are being organized and held around the country for 19-year-old Texas A&M student Mollie, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and for Kristene, 18, who remains in critical condition following surgery to treat the gunshot wound to her head. The tragic story has been covered by major news outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, Huffington Post, and TIME.

A candlelight vigil will be held in Violet Andrews Park of Portland, Texas—the park in which the girls were found—this Friday, June 29 at 6:00 P.M. Details for the vigil as well as prayers and messages from people around the world can be found on the Facebook page for the Texas vigil.

"Our hearts go out to Mollie and Kristene's friends, family and community, who are still in shock from this attack," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. "We wish Kristene the very best as she recovers from this senseless act, and are heartened to see their community join together to stand up in support of them and other young couples like them."

LGBT Advocate Cleve Jones has organized a 7:00 P.M. Wednesday vigil in San Francisco's Harvey Milk Plaza, and has been using his Facebook own page to update others on news related to Kristene and Mollie. He is also calling on members of other geographic communities to host their own vigils.

Answering this call from Jones, another vigil will be held on Friday at 6:00 P.M. in DuPont Circle in Washington D.C.

Violet Andrews Park is already home to rainbow ribbons, flowers, and homemade messages and shows of love from members of the community mourning the attacks against the young women.

"We are a very close-knit community and when news of the shooting spread through our town, everyone wanted to help," Mary Lankford, one of Kristene's teachers, told CNN.

A friend of Kristene and Mollie told MSNBC, "We focused on their personalities and how they got along with everybody else … their kindheartedness and their ability to just make other people smile and make each other smile," he said. "We didn't care … what they were, it's who they were."

The crimes are not yet formally being considered acts of discrimination, but Portland Police Chief Randy Wright notes that the case, for which no suspects have been identified, has "some of the earmarks of a targeted attack." The FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are investigating the case as well.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey said in a statement: "This brutal act against Mollie and Kristene has left many shaken throughout the local community and across the country. It is heart-wrenching that these two young women, with their whole lives ahead of them, became the targets of such terrifying and deadly violence. Our deepest sympathies go out to their loved ones, and we keep Kristene in our thoughts and prayers during her recovery. We urge police to investigate this case fully, including the possibility that these shootings were motivated by bias. Despite the many gains that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have made, the threat of violence remains excruciatingly real. We all must continue pressing toward the day when LGBT people can live freely and safely."

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) issued a statement after reaching out to the federal and local law enforcement officials as well as the DOJ. "Regardless of the motivation behind this tragedy, we must send a strong message that violence against anyone is never acceptable," said HRC President Chad Griffin in the statement, adding that they "hope to see a thorough investigation. These women, and all victims of violent crimes, deserve nothing less."

We encourage you to attend one of the vigils for Mollie and Kristene that are taking place this week across the nation. Please see the GetEqual Texas list of vigils to find one near you.

Update: Kristene's family has set up a donation page to help cover her hospital care -- please consider making a contribution to this fund.

Last week, Texas teenagers Mary Kristene Chapa and Mollie Judith Olgin, who were in a relationship, were shot execution style with a large-caliber gun in a park and were found approximately nine hours later. 19-year-old Texas A&M student Mollie was pronounced dead at the scene. Kristene, 18, has since been recovering at a rate that her doctors and family call “amazing.” NBC Latino and MSNBC spoke with Kristene’s older brother, Hilario, about his sister.

That Kristene is recovering at all, considering how she was shot and the many hours that passed before she was found, defies all odds, according to her doctors. She is regaining feeling and function in her right side, though not in her left.

Hilario told NBC Latino, “the doctors say it’s too early, no one is using the world paralyzed…They say we should be so happy with her progress after 3 or 4 days. She is very strong. She survived a very tough ordeal but her recovery is coming in strides and impressing everybody.”

Kristene has been communicating with her family, who keeps round-the-clock vigil in her hospital room, through sign language (which she learned in school) and written notes. She has been asking many questions about her condition and recovery but has not revealed much about the attack.

“She knows what’s happened, but she hasn’t chosen to talk about it on her own,” Hilario told MSNBC. “We’re under the impression she doesn’t know who did it. We don’t know if it’s a hate crime.”

He added, “She’s pissed about what happened to her and I think she’s ready to get up and take off walking if she could.”

Kristene, who has also been writing down Mollie’s name, has not yet been told about her girlfriend’s death. Her brother, who had to identify Kristene’s body and unrecognizable face following the shooting, said that they do not want the news to negatively affect her recovery. It is not yet known when Kristene will be able to leave the intensive care unit.

Kristene’s family is currently without health insurance as her father, a veteran of the Iraq war, is between jobs. They have been accepting donations to cover her medical expenses.

“Seeing her strength, it gives me strength,” Hilario told MSNBC. “All you can really do is just hang onto hope and just watching her gives me hope.”

Hilario and his father had not known that Kristene is gay until after the brutal attack, though Kristene’s sister and mother knew. The Chapa and Olgin families have yet to meet but hope to soon once Kristene has progressed further in her recovery.

Hilario told NBC Latino, “She’s getting a lot of support from the gay and lesbian community. I'm proud of my sister. I have no problem with it and our family doesn't either." He added, "We just want to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else and find who did this."

The investigation is being led by local police with assistance from the FBI and has been joined by the Texas Rangers. Gathering evidence from the secluded, grassy crime scene has proven difficult so far. Along with caps from the bullets, police now have a description of a suspect given an eyewitness to the attack. The suspect, according to MSNBC, is a white man in his twenties with dark hair, standing at 5’8, weighing about 140 pounds.

Along with donating to help cover Kristene’s medical costs, you can show your support for Mollie and Kristene by organizing or attending a vigil in your area.

On Friday, June 29, there will be nighttime vigils in Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, Albany, NY, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington state, and Washington DC. There will be several throughout Texas, including in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and at the site of the violent attack in Portland.

This weekend, more vigils will be held in British Columbia, Dallas, Heritage Park in Texas, Washington DC, New York City, and in Pennsylvania.

A vigil was held in New York City’s Union Square Park on Sunday for Texas teens Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa, who were shot execution style in Portland, Texas in late June. Mollie, 19, was pronounced dead on the scene and 18-year-old Kristene, her girlfriend of five months, is recovering in intensive care. The Chapa family is receiving donations through WePay to cover their daughter’s medical costs, as Mr. Chapa, an Iraq war veteran, is between jobs and the family is uninsured.

Those keeping vigil brought candles and homemade signs, some of which read “Stop attacks on our youth”, “Violence against our kids is violence against us all!”, and “Mollie loved Mary—We love all our youth”.

The evening concluded with a speak-out from those in attendance, including members of the Metropolitan Community Church and Queer Rising, which posted pictures from the vigil on Facebook.

“What happens when tragedies occur, whether it be in the middle of Chicago, in the middle of New York, or in rural Texas, that affects us here today,” said one attendee. “The way we combat these tragedies is to stand up and shout, ‘this is unacceptable.’”

Though the local police of Portland, Texas Rangers, and the FBI had initially been struggling to gather evidence for the grassy crime scene, a witness recently came forward to describe the shooter. The killer is believed to be a 5’8 white man with dark hair, weighing about 140 pounds, according to ABC News.

The attack is not formally being considered a hate crime. The investigation has not found evidence to suggest the shootings were motivated by discrimination, though Portland’s Chief of Police has said that the crime did not appear to be random.

Whether or not Kristene and Mollie were targeted because of their identities, one woman at the vigil said, “it still affects the entire queer community.”

Union Square Park hosted just one of many vigils being held internationally this week. Upcoming vigils will take place on Tuesday in San Diego, California and in El Paso, Texas.

Visit Kristene's family's fundraising page to help cover Kristene’s medical expenses.

More photos, courtesy of Lauren DeCicca, can be found in an album on GLAAD's Facebook.

Kristene Chapa, 18, has left the hospital and helped the police sketch the man who shot her and her girlfriend, Mollie Olgin, execution style in June, leaving Kristene in critical condition and Mollie dead.

Early in July, Kristene provided a forensic artist with information to sketch the shooter. Because of brain injuries sustained in the attack, Kristene had been struggling to communicate effectively. Her recovery has continued to progress, so she contacted the artist last week and asked to refine the sketch.

Her description was consistent with the one she originally provided. Kristene says that her attacker is a white man in his 20s with brown hair, standing at 5’8”, weighing 140 pounds.

The shooting took place close to a month ago, but the nightmare of the attack’s aftermath continues. The road ahead to Kristene’s full emotional and physical recovery, as well as to identifying a suspect, is a long one.

In just the past week, Kristene, along with refining the drawing, has been released from the hospital, begun rehabilitative therapies (neurological, physical, and psychological), and was told for the first time that Mollie did not survive the violent attack in the grassy Texas park that night.

Mollie’s fate had initially been kept from Kristene for fear it would negatively affect her recovery. The time had come, though, said her brother Hilario, to tell Kristene the truth. Their family sat with Mollie’s parents as well as with authorities from the investigation to tell her.

“With that support group we passed the info to my little sister,” said Hilario. “She was brokenhearted, very upset…They told us ‘you have to let her cry.’”

Though the Olgin and Chapa families had not met before the shooting, they have come together to take care of Kristene and to find Mollie’s killer.

Hilario said that Mollie’s father Mario “comes to visit [Kristene] and when he does, she gets emotional but he is supporting her.”

After seeing the final sketch of his daughter’s killer, Mario told his local NBC affiliate, “I think about [Mollie’s] last 15, 20, 30 minutes on Earth…how scared both girls had to be whenever they were approached by this monster.”

Regarding the investigation (led by the local police department, Texas Rangers, and FBI) and the difficulty finding a suspect or establishing a motive, Mario said, “it’s been over three weeks now and the longer it carries on, the harder it’s gonna be.”

GLAAD urges the media to keep covering this case and telling the tragic story of this young couple. The latest updates on Kristene and the ongoing investigation continue to garner international attention, and have been covered by major news outlets and affiliates, including MSNBC, NBC Latino, New York Daily News, ABC, CBS, and Huffington Post. The story has also been circulating around the blogosphere, appearing in places like LGBTQ Nation, Queerty, Lez Get Real, Pink News, Gay Star News, and Towleroad.

If you have any information, please call the police in Portland, Texas at (361) 777-4444. To help cover Kristene’s medical expenses (her family is uninsured as her father, an Iraq War veteran, is between jobs), you can donate to the Chapa family's page on WePay.

Almost two years to the day after Kristene Chapa and Mollie Olgin were ruthlessly shot execution style, arrests have finally been made in connection with the fatal attack that left Mollie dead and Kristene seriously injured. In 2012, the young women's story garnered media attention and community support on a national level.

On a summer night in a park in Portland, Texas, teen couple Kristene, then 18, and Mollie, 19, were shot with a large-caliber gun and left for dead in a heartbreaking and terrifying turn of events. Though, tragically, Mollie did not survive that night, Kristene was found nine hours later. She was placed in intensive care due to sustained traumatic brain injuries and--using sign language, pens, and paper—was able to describe her attacker for a police sketch.

In the last two years, Kristene has regained the abilities to move the left side of her body, to sit, and to stand. She continues to undergo physical rehabilitation.

David Malcolm Strickland, 27 years old, has now been charged with capital murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, and aggravated sexual assault. The role of sexual violence in the attack had not been made public until this week, after Strickland was arrested on June 20.

Laura Kimberly, Strickland's wife (both pictured above), has also been arrested for tampering with physical evidence. She is just three years older than Kristene.

The attack had never been formally considered a hate crime, though at the time the local police chief noted the case had "some of the earmarks of a targeted attack." The FBI, Department of Justice, and Texas Rangers assisted with the investigation.

"I hope that it gives them some closure knowing that this person is taken off the street," stated Gary Giles, Portland police chief. "We've been working very hard to make sure we get him as soon as possible. A series of fortunate events has led us to this point and I'm just very happy that we could help in — at least at this point — in bringing him to justice.” He added, though, "This is still an active investigation. We have a lot of evidence to still continue to process. There are still a lot of things that that we cannot release but we're confident that we do have our person."

Kristene commented on Facebook:

In an additional Facebook post, Kristene said, "Thanks everyone for the texts, messages, and calls but my family and I are just kinda in shock and just shook up. We need time to let it sink and just process the news we've waited on for two years please keep us in your prayers."

Watch the video below to learn about the evidence—including an anonymous letter—that helped police finally come up with a suspect:

KiiiTV.com South Texas, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend

(Photo credit: Vivian Felten)

Two years after Kristene Chapa survived a horrific shooting that killed her girlfriend Mollie Olgin in a south Texas park, author Chivas Sandage is writing a book to highlight the teen's story of strength and resilience. Together, they are working to promote fundraising efforts to help cover the family's steep, ongoing medical expenses.

Kristene,18 years old at the time, was with Mollie at Violet Andrews Park in Texas when the two were assaulted, shot in the head at close range with a large-caliber gun, and left for dead. Not found until nine hours later, Mollie was pronounced dead at the scene, while Kristene was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and paralysis on her left side. Miraculously, over the next few months in recovery Kristene was able to use sign language, pens, and paper to describe her attacker for a police sketch. The devstating attack garnered media attention and community support on a national level.

At the time of the attack, Kristene was without health insurance. Now at age 20, she is only covered by Medicaid, which does not provide for the high quality, ongoing rehabilitation she needs to thrive. Her family is struggling to pay for her rehabilitation out of pocket. Although she has regained the ability to move the left side of her body, sit, and stand, she experiences continued limitations with her hand, among other areas.

Kristene's aunt set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the ongoing medical expenses that Medicaid will not cover, and for the family's cost of travel to and from TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation and Research Hospital in Houston. The fund was initially established immediately following the attack, but the Chapa family continues to fundraise In order to protect the progress Kristene's made, and to push even further towards full recovery.

Just two weeks ago, arrests were made in conjunction with the attack. David Malcolm Strickland, 27 years old, has been charged with capital murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, and aggravated sexual assault. Strickland's wife Laura Kimberly has also been arrested for tampering with physical evidence. Though the attack was never formally considered a hate crime, the local police chief noted the case had "some of the earmarks of a targeted attack"--a claim that Chivas explores in her upcoming book.

(Photo credit: Vivian Felten)

In an effort to share the inspirational story of Kristene's resilience and to bring awareness to the fundraising campaign, author Chivas Sandage has teamed up with Kristene to help raise her voice in a memoir called Because There Were No Birds: The Kristene Chapa Story. As Sandage notes on her website, "Among the growing number of tragedies caused by gun violence, too rare are the voices of victims who survive—especially young women like Kristene Chapa who thrive despite all odds."

Sandage and Kristene are currently busy at work on the memoir, but in the meantime be sure to visit Kristene's fundraising page to help support the teen and her family during her recovery.

GLAAD has been in touch with Kristene and her mom, and will continue to bring attention to their story as they work to get Kristene the care she needs.

Two years after a horrific attack that killed Mollie Olgin and permanently changed Kristene Chapa's life, the community in south Texas is rallying together to call for justice. On Friday November 14, 2014, just as a hearing for their attacker gets underway, Kristene and Mollie's friends and supporters will hold a Rally Against Hate Crimes in Sinton, Texas.

In 2012, after being in a relationship for five months, Kristene Chapa and Mollie Olgin were attacked at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas. The two were shot in the head, execution style. Mollie died at the scene but Kristene was rushed to the hospital with head injuries. She survived and is continuing to recover every day, through the support of family and friends. A fund has been set up to help the family with medical expenses.

The rally will be taking place while David Strickland, the 27-year old man accused in the double shooting, will be making his second pre-trial appearance.  Strickland faces charges of capital murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping. His defense is supported by Taft Pharmacy and Villiage Pharmacy, the owners of whom are his parents who are adamant that their son is not guilty. At his first pre-trial hearing Strickland said he wanted the trail to begin to "get the truth out." From inside a police car, he held a sign up that said, "Wake up America, the media is lying to you."

The rally is to raise awareness for both Kristene and in memory of Mollie. Speakers include Cindy Candia, co-president of Harlingen PFLAG, Jennifer Clark, a spokesperson for the Triangle Bar in Corpus Christi, and Minister John Cabrera of Kingsborough Ridge Baptist Church. 

TAKE ACTION:

If you are in Texas, join the rally to call for justice for Kristene and Mollie. Bring your signs and rainbow flags and support the victims.

Visit the Facebook event page for more details.

Donate to Kristene's medical expenses.

This morning, a dedicated group rallied in support of anti-LGBT victims Kristene Chapa and Mollie Olgin outside the courthouse where their attacker had a pre-trial hearing.

In 2012, after being in a relationship for five months, Kristene Chapa and Mollie Olgin were attacked at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas. The two were shot in the head, execution style. Mollie died at the scene but Kristene was rushed to the hospital with head injuries.

The rally was one of the first public appearances Kristene made. Her time since the attack has been spent recovering amid physical therapy appointments in Houston and time in recovery with her family.

This was the first pro-LGBT rally to be held in Sinton, Texas. Local media covered the anticipation of the event, including the Corpus Christi Caller Times. Local NBC affiliate KRISTV reported on the rally minutes before it was to begin.

And then the rally began. The Corpus Christi Caller Times  photographer Michael Zamora captured images from the morning. Participants got to hear from supporters and Kristene herself, and were reminded that she still has significant medical bills. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help defray medical costs, and all are encouraged to give generously.

Supporters of Kristene Chapa and Mollie Olgin start to gather outside the county courthouse in Sinton. pic.twitter.com/W55upiFFa1

— Michael Zamora (@CallerZamora) November 14, 2014

Kristene Chapa and sister Patricia join supporters outside the county courthouse in Sinton. pic.twitter.com/HU5blsRAMt

— Michael Zamora (@CallerZamora) November 14, 2014

Demonstrators continue to wait outside the courthouse. David Strickland still awaiting his court appearance inside. pic.twitter.com/G6JwhCUbx4

— Michael Zamora (@CallerZamora) November 14, 2014

At the hearing, Strickland's lawyers asked for a delay, and the next pre-trial hearing has been set for February 6. 

Even if you aren't in Texas, You can support Kristene and Mollie now by sharing GLAAD's graphic, taking to social media to call for #justice4KrisandMollie, and donating to the Chapa family's medical expense fund.

Kick off the holidays by giving back. Join GLAAD on #GivingTuesday to raise critical funds and expand #SouthernStories, GLAAD's project to put a human face on the challenges LGBT people face in the American South. All this week to celebrate Thanksgiving, GLAAD is sharing some of the stories behind this campaign. Take a look at the story of Kristene Chapa, from Sinton, Texas.

In 2012, Kristene Chapa and Mollie Olgin, a couple of five months, were brutally attacked at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas. The two were assaulted and shot in the head, execution style. Mollie died at the scene but Kristene, left for dead but found by a bird-watcher the following morning, was rushed to the hospital with head injuries. She survived and is continuing to recover every day, through the support of family and friends.

As the trial for her shooter is approaching, GLAAD has been working with Kristene and her supporters in Texas and around the country to build media attention and popular support. Kristene and Mollie's story has captured the attention of local media in south Texas. At a recent hearing for their shooter, supporters rallied outside of the courthouse, speaking to the media about the need to curb violence in Texas. The ‪#‎justice4krisandmollie movement has continued to grow. Local media continues the coverage, and national media is starting to pay attention for the first time in two years, including upcoming pieces from MSNBC and Telemundo.

The next pre-trial hearing is in February, and GLAAD is continuously working with Kristene and her family.

You can join in the support by visiting www.glaad.org/justice4krisandmollie, tweeting with the hashtag #justice4krisandmollie, or donating to Kristene's Go Fund Me page.

GLAAD gives voice to LGBT people and allies by amplifying inspiring and impactful stories aimed at leveraging the power of the media to change culture. Are you a Southerner who has a story you believe deserves attention from GLAAD and the media? Share it with us. We may feature your story in the GLAAD Newsroom and with local, regional or national media. And be sure to support GLAAD on #GivingTuesday.

Since surviving an execution-style shooting in a Texas park two years ago, Kristene Chapa has dedicated herself to healing physically and emotionally, from the attack's severe physical wounds and the emotional loss of her girlfriend, Mollie Olgin, who died at the scene.

Last night, MSNBC premiered an online original segment to catch up with Kristene, her advocates, and community members—known to her friends as Kris—about her intensive physical therapies, the aftermath of the brutal attack, coming out to her family, the ways in which Kris continues to inspire her community and young LGBT people throughout Texas and beyond.

"God loves everybody, no matter if you're gay or straight. He left me here for a reason. I have a second chance," said Kristene. "What happened to Mollie and I, I still am going through in many different phases, but I'm just grateful I'm still here. I'm going through all the struggles and obstacles, but I'm still up. I fall down, I pick myself back up."

David Strickland, the man accused of sexually and physically assaulting Kristene and Mollie, will face trial in spring of 2015, though he is not being charged for committing a hate crime, much to the dismay of many who have been following Kristene's story.

"The police do not believe they have evidence of a hate crime at this point in time. As Kristene's co-author, here's what I can tell you: The attack had the earmarks of being targeted," explained Chivas Sandage, writer and advocate, to MSNBC. "From everything I'm seeing, I believe this could be a very real possibility."

Watch and share the segment below:

GLAAD continues to work closely with Kristene and Chivas to bring the nation's attention to Kris' story, such as with this MSNBC segment.

Take action now to bring #Justice4KrisandMollie, and donate to Kristene family's medical expense fund.

Kristene Chapa's name, to some, may be most recognizable for being shot, execution style, along with her girlfriend Mollie Olgin, in a southern Texas park on a summer night in 2012. After her on-stage appearance at last night's 26^th annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York, though, Kristene came to be recognized for her inspiring resiliency.

Kristene and her mom, Grace, hopped on an airplane this Mother's Day weekend to share her story with the crowd. After exploring Times Square during the day and walking down the event's red carpet in the iconic Waldorf Astoria by night, Kristene took to the stage.

Following a moving introduction from GLAAD's Board of Directors member Tiffany R. Warren, Kristene spoke from the heart about the unconditional love and support from her mother, missing Mollie, support from GLAAD and the LGBT community, and more.

"I just wish Mollie was here. She would have loved to see all of this, all the support from everyone. I know it's a tragedy, but it also brings a lot of people together, and shows all the great people out there that's willing to help and have good hearts," said Kristene. "It's hard to be gay in south Texas, but I believe that God loves everybody, no matter if you're gay or straight."                            

For nearly three years, Kristene has dedicated herself to her ongoing physical and occupational therapy. She continues working tirelessly on her recovery, including regaining function in her left arm. You can donate to her medical fund to aid the financially draining therapies. She is also working with a writer on a book to tell her story. 

Empowering herself by sharing her story with her own words and demonstrating her own unrelenting strength and honesty, Kristene was met with multiple standing ovations from the audience. She garnered attention from celebs, journalists, and advocates, alike.

With Kristene Chapa and @TyHerndoncom at the #glaadawardspic.twitter.com/uXGGYa2g1A

— Sarah Kate Ellis (@sarahkateellis) May 10, 2015

 

Getting to spend part of my night with Kristene Chapa was a huge honor. This courageous woman is a miracle. Shot in the head with her girlfriend for being gay. Her partner did not survive. It is a huge tragedy and she is a big gift to this world. #Glaad

A photo posted by Ruby Rose (@rubyrose) on

May 9, 2015 at 9:43pm PDT

Kristene Chapa just broke + put back together every beating heart in the room w/ her unwavering bravery. Her mom is here, too. #glaadawards

— Dear Jonesey (@dearjonesey) May 10, 2015

Kristene Chapa is a survivor and is standing before us today. The room is silent for the first time tonight. #glaadawards

— Dana Piccoli (@DanaPiccoli) May 10, 2015

Thinking of Mollie Olgin--if she had survived the shooting, she'd be walking the red carpet with #KristeneChapa tonight. #glaadawards

— Chivas Sandage (@ChivasSandage) May 9, 2015

Kristene Chapa is a survivor and is standing before us today. The room is silent for the first time tonight. #glaadawards

— Dana Piccoli (@DanaPiccoli) May 10, 2015

Kristene's speech was immediately followed by an acoustic performance of "The Climb" from openly gay country star Ty Herndon, accompanied by Antigone Rising's Kristin Ellis-Henderson and singer-songwriter Anita Cochran. Herndon dedicated the performance to Kristene.

For the past year, GLAAD has been working with Kristene and her advocates in Texas and around the country to build media attention and popular support. Kristene and Mollie's story has captured the attention of local and national media, including an MSNBC Originals episode from December 2014, and her alleged attacker is set to go to trial this summer. The ‪#‎justice4krisandmollie movement has continued to grow. You can join in the support by visiting www.glaad.org/justice4krisandmollie, tweeting with the hashtag #justice4krisandmollie, or donating to Kristene's Go Fund Me page.

Anderson Cooper presented the Excellence in Media Award to Kelly Ripa. Lynda Carter presented the Vito Russo Award to journalist Thomas Roberts. Comedian Ross Mathews hosted the event. Out country singer Ty Herndon performed with Antigone Rising's Kristen Henderson and guitarist Anita Cochran. Other guests included: Jeffrey Tambor, Judith Light, Trace Lysette (Transparent); Rupert Friend (Homeland) and fiancé Aimee Mullins; Jonathan Groff (Looking); Laverne Cox, Dascha Polanco, Jackie Cruz (Orange Is the New Black); Janet Mock (So Popular!); Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt); Mark Consuelos (Alpha House); Rachael Harris (Suits) and her fiancé Christian Hebel; Karla Mosley, Scott T. Schofield, Crystal Chappell (The Bold and the Beautiful); out NBA player Jason Collins; out football player Michael Sam and fiancé Vito Cammisano; Craig Melvin (MSNBC Live) and wife Lindsay Czarniak (SportsCenter); Alicia Menendez (Alicia Menendez Tonight); models Andreja Pejić, Carmen Carrera, Rain Dove, Josephine Skriver, Cory Wade; Monifah Carter and her wife Terez Thorpe (R&B Divas: Atlanta); recording artist Maya Vik; Terry Artis, Jonathan Bodrick, Brandon Hood, JJ Langan, Devin Stokes, Kristen Brown (B.O.R.N. to Style); Josh Canfield, Reed Kelly (Survivor); Louise Sorel (Days of Our Lives); Sam Champion (The Weather Channel); out WWE wrestler Darren Young; designer Mitchell Gold; John Gidding, Theodore Leaf, Rob Younkers (Secret Guide to Fabulous); and GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.

The Los Angeles GLAAD Media Awards were held on March 21 at the Beverly Hilton. For video, photos, and more, visit: http://glaad.org/mediaawards/recap. The 26th Annual GLAAD Media Awards are presented by Delta Air Lines, Hilton, Ketel One Vodka, and Wells Fargo; and Official Presenting Partners Amazon and Bud Light.

Kristene Chapa has faced more adversity and barriers to overcome than the average young adult, but she as never stopped pushing to accomplish her goals. Now, in a bittersweet moment in her life, she has started college as she continues to await justice for her alleged shooter.

Kristene, now 21, has enrolled at Coastal Bend Community College for the Fall. She's taking an English class to start – it's one of her strongest subjects, and has mixed emotions about college. In an exlusive statement to GLAAD, she said, "I'm excited about starting college but nervous at the same time because I'm different now. I just don't want to be judged. It's my first step to being independent again [after] 3 years."

In 2012, at age eighteen, Kristene and her girlfriend, Mollie Olgin, were sexually assaulted before being shot execution style at a park in their south Texas town. Kristene woke up in the hospital in critical condition, unable to open her eyes, speak or move most of the left side of her body. Mollie did not survive. After two years, an arrest was made.

The suspect in their attack, David Strickland, is charged with capital murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated sexual assault, and aggravated kidnapping. The trial has been postponed several times and is now scheduled for February 2016. As Kristene and the young women's families are waiting for justice, Kristene told GLAAD they "need all the support we can get."

After the attack, Kristene's family set up a fundraising page to raise money for Kristene's extensive medical bills, which often are paid by her family, out-of-pocket. Fifteen months later, the Chapa family has finally met their initial goal. Because of her dedication to the therapy that's been made possible in part by donations to her fundraising page, Kristene is now able to start the challenging new adventure that, three years ago, did not seem within reach.

Though the family's initial GoFundMe goal was met, Kristene's recovery is still ongoing. Her family continues to pay the substantial expenses for physical therapy and has begun to pay for Kristene's college education. Their need for financial support is not over.

In the past three years, Kristene has overcome so much, both physically and mentally. The support she has received, not only from her local community but also from people around the world, has not only motivated her to never give up, but has enabled her to get the necessary medical care that she continues to need. She routinely posts updates on her personal Facebook page, sharing the progress that she's made, expressing gratitude for her supporters and her deeply-held faith in God.

This past May, Kristene and her mother were invited to the 2015 GLAAD Media Awards, where she was received on-stage with a standing ovation from the audience. Her moving and inspirational speech brought the room to tears. GLAAD has been working closely with Kristene, empowering her to share her story in her own words on a national scale.

Show your support for Kristene by continuing to donate toward her medical bills as she continues down the road to recovery. We've got your back, Kristene!

Four years after surviving an execution-style shooting and sexual assault, Kristene Chapa, whose girlfriend Mollie Olgin died at the scene, has received a verdict in the trial of her alleged attacker, David Strickland.

On Wednesday, September 28, 2016, a jury found Strickland guilty of capital murder and aggravated sexual assault. Since prosecutors did not pursue the death penalty, he was given an automatic life sentence. In an interview with KRIS-TV, Chapa shared her reaction to the verdict: "I was very shocked at first. I didn't know what to expect exactly. I was hoping that they (the jury) would see all the evidence that we had and they would go our way. (It was) very emotional...I wanted to just burst out into tears."

David Malcolm Strickland, 29 years old, was charged with capital murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, and aggravated sexual assault almost two years to the day after Kris survived the horrific traumas of that night. 

On a summer night in a park in Portland, Texas, teen couple Kristene, then 18, and Mollie, 19, were shot with a large-caliber gun and left for dead in a heartbreaking and terrifying turn of events. Though, tragically, Mollie did not survive that night, Kristene was found nine hours later. She was placed in intensive care due to sustained traumatic brain injuries and--using sign language, pens, and paper—was able to describe her attacker for a police sketch. The nation rallied around Kristene and Mollie by holding vigils across the country as the media closely followed the attack’s aftermath. Her supporters can donate to her medical fund to assist with her ongoing, expensive medical needs.

The day before the closing arguments, Corpus Christi’s KRIST TV reported:

Although she said it was difficult to talk about the details of the shooting, Chapa said she was not bothered by seeing Strickland in court.

When she was asked why, Chapa responded, "Because he's a coward." She went on to tell KRIS 6 News, "David Strickland put his head down and wouldn't look at me, so what does that mean to you?" 

In the last two years, Kristene has regained the abilities to move the left side of her body, to sit, and to stand. She continues to undergo physical rehabilitation. At the time of the attack, Kristene was without health insurance. Now in her early 20s, she is only covered by Medicaid, which does not provide for the high quality, ongoing rehabilitation she needs to thrive. Her family is struggling to pay for her rehabilitation out of pocket. Although she has regained the ability to move the left side of her body, sit, and stand, she experiences continued limitations with her hand, among other areas. You can donate to her medical fund to aid the financially draining therapies, which the Chapa family largely covers out of pocket.

Kris, who is now enrolled in college, is working with a writer on a book to tell her story. Kris has also been a visible advocate, sharing her story in the hopes of helping others find comfort and support. Over the summer, she spoke at a #WeAreOrlando vigil in Corpus Christ to honor the victims who lost their lives in an attack of historic proportions at Orlando’s Pulse club.

Video courtesy of Mark Martinez & Kristene Chapa

In 2015, Kris and her mom, Grace, attended the GLAAD Media Awards in New York, where Kristene was recognized for her inspiring resiliency. She received a standing ovation.

That night, Kristene told the audience: "I just wish Mollie was here. She would have loved to see all of this, all the support from everyone. I know it's a tragedy, but it also brings a lot of people together, and shows all the great people out there that's willing to help and have good hearts."

In a 2014 digital documentary, Kristene told MSNBC:

"God loves everybody, no matter if you're gay or straight. He left me here for a reason. I have a second chance," said Kristene. "What happened to Mollie and I, I still am going through in many different phases, but I'm just grateful I'm still here. I'm going through all the struggles and obstacles, but I'm still up. I fall down, I pick myself back up."

Watch and share that segment below:

For years, GLAAD has worked closely with Kristene to bring the nation's attention to her story of recovery and resiliency.

Take action now to bring #Justice4KrisandMollie, and donate to Kristene family's medical expense fund.

Police say Texas teenagers Mary Kristene Chapa and Mollie Judith Olgin, who were in a relationship, were shot execution style with a large-caliber gun in a park on Friday night and were found approximately nine hours later. Vigils are being organized and held around the country for 19-year-old Texas A&M student Mollie, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and for Kristene, 18, who remains in critical condition following surgery to treat the gunshot wound to her head. The tragic story has been covered by major news outlets, including MSNBC, CNN, Huffington Post, and TIME.

A candlelight vigil will be held in Violet Andrews Park of Portland, Texas—the park in which the girls were found—this Friday, June 29 at 6:00 P.M. Details for the vigil as well as prayers and messages from people around the world can be found on the Facebook page for the Texas vigil.

"Our hearts go out to Mollie and Kristene's friends, family and community, who are still in shock from this attack," said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. "We wish Kristene the very best as she recovers from this senseless act, and are heartened to see their community join together to stand up in support of them and other young couples like them."

LGBT Advocate Cleve Jones has organized a 7:00 P.M. Wednesday vigil in San Francisco's Harvey Milk Plaza, and has been using his Facebook own page to update others on news related to Kristene and Mollie. He is also calling on members of other geographic communities to host their own vigils.

Answering this call from Jones, another vigil will be held on Friday at 6:00 P.M. in DuPont Circle in Washington D.C.

Violet Andrews Park is already home to rainbow ribbons, flowers, and homemade messages and shows of love from members of the community mourning the attacks against the young women.

"We are a very close-knit community and when news of the shooting spread through our town, everyone wanted to help," Mary Lankford, one of Kristene's teachers, told CNN.

A friend of Kristene and Mollie told MSNBC, "We focused on their personalities and how they got along with everybody else … their kindheartedness and their ability to just make other people smile and make each other smile," he said. "We didn't care … what they were, it's who they were."

The crimes are not yet formally being considered acts of discrimination, but Portland Police Chief Randy Wright notes that the case, for which no suspects have been identified, has "some of the earmarks of a targeted attack." The FBI and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are investigating the case as well.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey said in a statement: "This brutal act against Mollie and Kristene has left many shaken throughout the local community and across the country. It is heart-wrenching that these two young women, with their whole lives ahead of them, became the targets of such terrifying and deadly violence. Our deepest sympathies go out to their loved ones, and we keep Kristene in our thoughts and prayers during her recovery. We urge police to investigate this case fully, including the possibility that these shootings were motivated by bias. Despite the many gains that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have made, the threat of violence remains excruciatingly real. We all must continue pressing toward the day when LGBT people can live freely and safely."

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) issued a statement after reaching out to the federal and local law enforcement officials as well as the DOJ. "Regardless of the motivation behind this tragedy, we must send a strong message that violence against anyone is never acceptable," said HRC President Chad Griffin in the statement, adding that they "hope to see a thorough investigation. These women, and all victims of violent crimes, deserve nothing less."

We encourage you to attend one of the vigils for Mollie and Kristene that are taking place this week across the nation. Please see the GetEqual Texas list of vigils to find one near you.

Update: Kristene's family has set up a donation page to help cover her hospital care -- please consider making a contribution to this fund.

Last week, Texas teenagers Mary Kristene Chapa and Mollie Judith Olgin, who were in a relationship, were shot execution style with a large-caliber gun in a park and were found approximately nine hours later. 19-year-old Texas A&M student Mollie was pronounced dead at the scene. Kristene, 18, has since been recovering at a rate that her doctors and family call “amazing.” NBC Latino and MSNBC spoke with Kristene’s older brother, Hilario, about his sister.

That Kristene is recovering at all, considering how she was shot and the many hours that passed before she was found, defies all odds, according to her doctors. She is regaining feeling and function in her right side, though not in her left.

Hilario told NBC Latino, “the doctors say it’s too early, no one is using the world paralyzed…They say we should be so happy with her progress after 3 or 4 days. She is very strong. She survived a very tough ordeal but her recovery is coming in strides and impressing everybody.”

Kristene has been communicating with her family, who keeps round-the-clock vigil in her hospital room, through sign language (which she learned in school) and written notes. She has been asking many questions about her condition and recovery but has not revealed much about the attack.

“She knows what’s happened, but she hasn’t chosen to talk about it on her own,” Hilario told MSNBC. “We’re under the impression she doesn’t know who did it. We don’t know if it’s a hate crime.”

He added, “She’s pissed about what happened to her and I think she’s ready to get up and take off walking if she could.”

Kristene, who has also been writing down Mollie’s name, has not yet been told about her girlfriend’s death. Her brother, who had to identify Kristene’s body and unrecognizable face following the shooting, said that they do not want the news to negatively affect her recovery. It is not yet known when Kristene will be able to leave the intensive care unit.

Kristene’s family is currently without health insurance as her father, a veteran of the Iraq war, is between jobs. They have been accepting donations to cover her medical expenses.

“Seeing her strength, it gives me strength,” Hilario told MSNBC. “All you can really do is just hang onto hope and just watching her gives me hope.”

Hilario and his father had not known that Kristene is gay until after the brutal attack, though Kristene’s sister and mother knew. The Chapa and Olgin families have yet to meet but hope to soon once Kristene has progressed further in her recovery.

Hilario told NBC Latino, “She’s getting a lot of support from the gay and lesbian community. I'm proud of my sister. I have no problem with it and our family doesn't either." He added, "We just want to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else and find who did this."

The investigation is being led by local police with assistance from the FBI and has been joined by the Texas Rangers. Gathering evidence from the secluded, grassy crime scene has proven difficult so far. Along with caps from the bullets, police now have a description of a suspect given an eyewitness to the attack. The suspect, according to MSNBC, is a white man in his twenties with dark hair, standing at 5’8, weighing about 140 pounds.

Along with donating to help cover Kristene’s medical costs, you can show your support for Mollie and Kristene by organizing or attending a vigil in your area.

On Friday, June 29, there will be nighttime vigils in Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, Albany, NY, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington state, and Washington DC. There will be several throughout Texas, including in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and at the site of the violent attack in Portland.

This weekend, more vigils will be held in British Columbia, Dallas, Heritage Park in Texas, Washington DC, New York City, and in Pennsylvania.

A vigil was held in New York City’s Union Square Park on Sunday for Texas teens Mollie Olgin and Mary Kristene Chapa, who were shot execution style in Portland, Texas in late June. Mollie, 19, was pronounced dead on the scene and 18-year-old Kristene, her girlfriend of five months, is recovering in intensive care. The Chapa family is receiving donations through WePay to cover their daughter’s medical costs, as Mr. Chapa, an Iraq war veteran, is between jobs and the family is uninsured.

Those keeping vigil brought candles and homemade signs, some of which read “Stop attacks on our youth”, “Violence against our kids is violence against us all!”, and “Mollie loved Mary—We love all our youth”.

The evening concluded with a speak-out from those in attendance, including members of the Metropolitan Community Church and Queer Rising, which posted pictures from the vigil on Facebook.

“What happens when tragedies occur, whether it be in the middle of Chicago, in the middle of New York, or in rural Texas, that affects us here today,” said one attendee. “The way we combat these tragedies is to stand up and shout, ‘this is unacceptable.’”

Though the local police of Portland, Texas Rangers, and the FBI had initially been struggling to gather evidence for the grassy crime scene, a witness recently came forward to describe the shooter. The killer is believed to be a 5’8 white man with dark hair, weighing about 140 pounds, according to ABC News.

The attack is not formally being considered a hate crime. The investigation has not found evidence to suggest the shootings were motivated by discrimination, though Portland’s Chief of Police has said that the crime did not appear to be random.

Whether or not Kristene and Mollie were targeted because of their identities, one woman at the vigil said, “it still affects the entire queer community.”

Union Square Park hosted just one of many vigils being held internationally this week. Upcoming vigils will take place on Tuesday in San Diego, California and in El Paso, Texas.

Visit Kristene's family's fundraising page to help cover Kristene’s medical expenses.

More photos, courtesy of Lauren DeCicca, can be found in an album on GLAAD's Facebook.

Kristene Chapa, 18, has left the hospital and helped the police sketch the man who shot her and her girlfriend, Mollie Olgin, execution style in June, leaving Kristene in critical condition and Mollie dead.

Early in July, Kristene provided a forensic artist with information to sketch the shooter. Because of brain injuries sustained in the attack, Kristene had been struggling to communicate effectively. Her recovery has continued to progress, so she contacted the artist last week and asked to refine the sketch.

Her description was consistent with the one she originally provided. Kristene says that her attacker is a white man in his 20s with brown hair, standing at 5’8”, weighing 140 pounds.

The shooting took place close to a month ago, but the nightmare of the attack’s aftermath continues. The road ahead to Kristene’s full emotional and physical recovery, as well as to identifying a suspect, is a long one.

In just the past week, Kristene, along with refining the drawing, has been released from the hospital, begun rehabilitative therapies (neurological, physical, and psychological), and was told for the first time that Mollie did not survive the violent attack in the grassy Texas park that night.

Mollie’s fate had initially been kept from Kristene for fear it would negatively affect her recovery. The time had come, though, said her brother Hilario, to tell Kristene the truth. Their family sat with Mollie’s parents as well as with authorities from the investigation to tell her.

“With that support group we passed the info to my little sister,” said Hilario. “She was brokenhearted, very upset…They told us ‘you have to let her cry.’”

Though the Olgin and Chapa families had not met before the shooting, they have come together to take care of Kristene and to find Mollie’s killer.

Hilario said that Mollie’s father Mario “comes to visit [Kristene] and when he does, she gets emotional but he is supporting her.”

After seeing the final sketch of his daughter’s killer, Mario told his local NBC affiliate, “I think about [Mollie’s] last 15, 20, 30 minutes on Earth…how scared both girls had to be whenever they were approached by this monster.”

Regarding the investigation (led by the local police department, Texas Rangers, and FBI) and the difficulty finding a suspect or establishing a motive, Mario said, “it’s been over three weeks now and the longer it carries on, the harder it’s gonna be.”

GLAAD urges the media to keep covering this case and telling the tragic story of this young couple. The latest updates on Kristene and the ongoing investigation continue to garner international attention, and have been covered by major news outlets and affiliates, including MSNBC, NBC Latino, New York Daily News, ABC, CBS, and Huffington Post. The story has also been circulating around the blogosphere, appearing in places like LGBTQ Nation, Queerty, Lez Get Real, Pink News, Gay Star News, and Towleroad.

If you have any information, please call the police in Portland, Texas at (361) 777-4444. To help cover Kristene’s medical expenses (her family is uninsured as her father, an Iraq War veteran, is between jobs), you can donate to the Chapa family's page on WePay.

Almost two years to the day after Kristene Chapa and Mollie Olgin were ruthlessly shot execution style, arrests have finally been made in connection with the fatal attack that left Mollie dead and Kristene seriously injured. In 2012, the young women's story garnered media attention and community support on a national level.

On a summer night in a park in Portland, Texas, teen couple Kristene, then 18, and Mollie, 19, were shot with a large-caliber gun and left for dead in a heartbreaking and terrifying turn of events. Though, tragically, Mollie did not survive that night, Kristene was found nine hours later. She was placed in intensive care due to sustained traumatic brain injuries and--using sign language, pens, and paper—was able to describe her attacker for a police sketch.

In the last two years, Kristene has regained the abilities to move the left side of her body, to sit, and to stand. She continues to undergo physical rehabilitation.

David Malcolm Strickland, 27 years old, has now been charged with capital murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, and aggravated sexual assault. The role of sexual violence in the attack had not been made public until this week, after Strickland was arrested on June 20.

Laura Kimberly, Strickland's wife (both pictured above), has also been arrested for tampering with physical evidence. She is just three years older than Kristene.

The attack had never been formally considered a hate crime, though at the time the local police chief noted the case had "some of the earmarks of a targeted attack." The FBI, Department of Justice, and Texas Rangers assisted with the investigation.

"I hope that it gives them some closure knowing that this person is taken off the street," stated Gary Giles, Portland police chief. "We've been working very hard to make sure we get him as soon as possible. A series of fortunate events has led us to this point and I'm just very happy that we could help in — at least at this point — in bringing him to justice.” He added, though, "This is still an active investigation. We have a lot of evidence to still continue to process. There are still a lot of things that that we cannot release but we're confident that we do have our person."

Kristene commented on Facebook:

In an additional Facebook post, Kristene said, "Thanks everyone for the texts, messages, and calls but my family and I are just kinda in shock and just shook up. We need time to let it sink and just process the news we've waited on for two years please keep us in your prayers."

Watch the video below to learn about the evidence—including an anonymous letter—that helped police finally come up with a suspect:

KiiiTV.com South Texas, Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend

(Photo credit: Vivian Felten)

Two years after Kristene Chapa survived a horrific shooting that killed her girlfriend Mollie Olgin in a south Texas park, author Chivas Sandage is writing a book to highlight the teen's story of strength and resilience. Together, they are working to promote fundraising efforts to help cover the family's steep, ongoing medical expenses.

Kristene,18 years old at the time, was with Mollie at Violet Andrews Park in Texas when the two were assaulted, shot in the head at close range with a large-caliber gun, and left for dead. Not found until nine hours later, Mollie was pronounced dead at the scene, while Kristene was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and paralysis on her left side. Miraculously, over the next few months in recovery Kristene was able to use sign language, pens, and paper to describe her attacker for a police sketch. The devstating attack garnered media attention and community support on a national level.

At the time of the attack, Kristene was without health insurance. Now at age 20, she is only covered by Medicaid, which does not provide for the high quality, ongoing rehabilitation she needs to thrive. Her family is struggling to pay for her rehabilitation out of pocket. Although she has regained the ability to move the left side of her body, sit, and stand, she experiences continued limitations with her hand, among other areas.

Kristene's aunt set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the ongoing medical expenses that Medicaid will not cover, and for the family's cost of travel to and from TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation and Research Hospital in Houston. The fund was initially established immediately following the attack, but the Chapa family continues to fundraise In order to protect the progress Kristene's made, and to push even further towards full recovery.

Just two weeks ago, arrests were made in conjunction with the attack. David Malcolm Strickland, 27 years old, has been charged with capital murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, and aggravated sexual assault. Strickland's wife Laura Kimberly has also been arrested for tampering with physical evidence. Though the attack was never formally considered a hate crime, the local police chief noted the case had "some of the earmarks of a targeted attack"--a claim that Chivas explores in her upcoming book.

(Photo credit: Vivian Felten)

In an effort to share the inspirational story of Kristene's resilience and to bring awareness to the fundraising campaign, author Chivas Sandage has teamed up with Kristene to help raise her voice in a memoir called Because There Were No Birds: The Kristene Chapa Story. As Sandage notes on her website, "Among the growing number of tragedies caused by gun violence, too rare are the voices of victims who survive—especially young women like Kristene Chapa who thrive despite all odds."

Sandage and Kristene are currently busy at work on the memoir, but in the meantime be sure to visit Kristene's fundraising page to help support the teen and her family during her recovery.

GLAAD has been in touch with Kristene and her mom, and will continue to bring attention to their story as they work to get Kristene the care she needs.

Two years after a horrific attack that killed Mollie Olgin and permanently changed Kristene Chapa's life, the community in south Texas is rallying together to call for justice. On Friday November 14, 2014, just as a hearing for their attacker gets underway, Kristene and Mollie's friends and supporters will hold a Rally Against Hate Crimes in Sinton, Texas.

In 2012, after being in a relationship for five months, Kristene Chapa and Mollie Olgin were attacked at Violet Andrews Park in Portland, Texas. The two were shot in the head, execution style. Mollie died at the scene but Kristene was rushed to the hospital with head injuries. She survived and is continuing to recover every day, through the support of family and friends. A fund has been set up to help the family with medical expenses.

The rally will be taking place while David Strickland, the 27-year old man accused in the double shooting, will be making his second pre-trial appearance.  Strickland faces charges of capital murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping. His defense is supported by Taft Pharmacy and Villiage Pharmacy, the owners of whom are his parents who are adamant that their son is not guilty. At his first pre-trial hearing Strickland said he wanted the trail to begin to "get the truth out." From inside a police car, he held a sign up that said, "Wake up America, the media is lying to you."

The rally is to raise awareness for both Kristene and in memory of Mollie. Speakers include Cindy Candia, co-president of Harlingen PFLAG, Jennifer Clark, a spokesperson for the Triangle Bar in Corpus Christi, and Minister John Cabrera of Kingsborough Ridge Baptist Church. 

TAKE ACTION:

If you are in Texas, join the rally to call for justice for Kristene and Mollie. Bring your signs and rainbow flags and support the victims.

Visit the Facebook event page for more details.

Donate to Kristene's medical expenses.