NEW YORK – The murder of Club Chili owner and Pride organizer Clinton ‘Billy’ Lewis in New York was not a hate crime, police have said.
The New York gay bar owner was shot dead at his home. Louis Duffy, 20, was arrested shortly afterwards.
The Elmira Star-Gazette reported that 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.”
Duffy has reportedly confessed to the killing and has been charged with second degree murder.
Kain said Duffy, of Horseheads, was an acquaintance of Lewis who possibly had undertaken some building work for the bar owner. Kain said he was unable to discuss details of the possible motive.
Duffy is being held in Chemung County Jail without bail.
