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.
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The news you care about, reported on by the people who care about you.Police said the motivation for the crime was personal, and it was not a hate crime, reported the Elmira Star Gazette.
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.
