Police in Elmira, N.Y. said the murder of gay bar owner Clinton “Billy” Lewis on Sunday was not a hate crime.
Clinton “Billy” Lewis, 53, the owner of Club Chill, a local gay bar across the street from his home, was shot with a .40-cal. weapon, according to court documents. Police said they recovered the murder weapon.
Louis Duffy, 20, has been charged with second degree murder.
Police said the motivation for the crime was personal, and it was not a hate crime, reported the Elmira Star Gazette.
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Capt. Joseph Kain of the Elmira Police Department said, “I really can’t disclose the actual motive, but I will say it was a personal issue. The victim was not killed as a direct result of being gay, it does not appear to be a hate crime.”
Lewis and Duffy knew each other for a short period of time, police said.
Duffy appeared in court on Tuesday morning and a preliminary hearing was set for later this week. He is being held without bail.
