Story at a glance
- CBS Denver reports the FBI is investigating Long’s death as a “hate crime matter.”
- Authorities were dispatched to Long’s due to a house fire and reports of people inside the residence causing damage.
- After the fire was put out, Long’s remains were found by fire rescue personnel, and her death was eventually ruled a homicide.
Federal authorities are now investigating the 2017 unsolved murder of an Asian American teenager in Colorado as a possible hate crime, according to CBS Denver.
The news outlet reports the FBI confirmed it is looking into the death of 17-year-old Maggie Long as a “hate crime matter.”
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“The FBI is investigating the murder of Maggie Long as a potential Hate Crime matter. A Hate Crime is a criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by the offender’s bias against a religion, disability, ethnicity/national origin, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity,” the FBI said in its statement.
Authorities were dispatched to Long’s home in Bailey, Colo., on Dec. 1, 2017 due to a house fire and reports of people inside the residence causing damage.
After the fire was put out, Long’s remains were found by fire rescue personnel, and her death was eventually ruled a homicide.
Investigators determined there had been a struggle that occurred between Long and the suspects who murdered her before setting fire to the home, according to the FBI.
Composite sketches of three men have been released by authorities and a reward has been offered, but no arrests have been made.
Police have speculated Long walked in on a robbery in progress as the suspects stole a Beretta handgun, AK-47 style rifle, 2,000 rounds of ammunition, a safe and jade figurines from the home.
The FBI did not provide any additional details as to why the investigation is now being looked at as a possible hate crime, and Long’s two sisters told CBS Denver they didn’t notice any overt anti-Asian discrimination in their community.
“This is an angle that wasn’t looked into in the past, and at this point it is no stone left unturned. Looking at the extent of violence in this crime, that is certainly an angle to look more closely into,” Lynna Long, the victim’s sister, told the news outlet.
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