Matthew Shepard

Matthew Shepard was an American university student from Wyoming whose 1998 murder drew national attention and became a landmark case in the history of hate-crime law in the United States.

Matthew Shepard was an American university student from Wyoming whose 1998 murder drew national attention and became a landmark case in the history of hate-crime law in the United States. He was attacked near Laramie and died from his injuries six days later. His death is widely remembered as a major anti-LGBTQ hate crime and helped spur federal hate-crime legislation.

Early life

Matthew Shepard was born in Casper, Wyoming, in 1976 and later attended the University of Wyoming. He was openly gay.

Murder

On October 6, 1998, Shepard was severely beaten and left tied to a fence near Laramie. He died of his injuries on October 12, 1998, in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Legal aftermath

Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were charged and convicted in connection with the killing. The case became a major reference point in U.S. hate-crime law discussions.

Legacy

Shepard's death became a national symbol of anti-LGBTQ violence and influenced the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009.