Bradley Stanford is accused of walking up to Akira Ross outside a Texas gas station, uttering an anti-gay slur, and shooting her 3 times. Akira died right in front of her girlfriend Tanya.
He’s been arrested. But NOT for a hate crime.
Should he be? If this isn’t a hate crime, then what is?
The facts are clear. Time to put pressure on the Texas legal system to follow those facts.
They owe Akira that, at least, so she can rest in peace. The affidavit says Ross and two others drove to the Circle K gas station on FM 620.
Ross’ girlfriend said they had a small argument about their pizza order, which the other friend thought may have caught the attention of Stanford.
Ross’ girlfriend went into the store, and Stanford started talking to Ross. The friend said Ross began to get agitated, and she went into the store a few minutes later. A 23-year-old man in Texas has been arrested for allegedly shouting an anti-gay slur before shooting and killing a 24-year-old gay woman whom he did not know in the parking lot of a gas station. Bradley Jacob Stanford was taken into custody earlier this month and charged with one count of murder in the slaying of Akira Ross, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
According to a probable cause affidavit, officers with the Cedar Park Police Department at about 10 p.m. on June 2, 2023, responded to a call regarding a reported shooting at the Circle K convenience store located in the 12000 block of Ranch Road 620 North in Cedar Park, in the area of Austin.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders say they observed a black Nissan sedan at one of the pumps. Next to the car they found Ross, who was “lying on her back in a pool of dark red blood.” Williamson County Emergency Medical Services arrived a short while later and at 10:05 p.m. pronounced Ross dead.
Ross’ friend texted Ross’ girlfriend inside the store to tell the cashier about someone having a gun and to call police.
When Ross went back outside, there was an argument between her and Stanford.
The affidavit says Stanford yelled a homophobic slur and fired three rounds.
