Calif. Man Pleads Not Guilty to Murder, Hate Crime Charges of Shooting Bi Man

A California man, who is accused of shooting a bisexual man, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, a hate crime and a special circumstances allegation of lying in wait Friday, KESQ, ABC-affiliate station in Coachella Valley, Calif., reports.

Police arrested Miguel Angel Bautista Ramirez last Monday in connection with the shooting death of Juan Ceballos, 20, in Mecca, Calif., on July 13. Ceballos, a college student who worked two jobs, identified as bisexual, according his brother Sergio Ceballos, 17.

Police told KESQ Ramirez and Juan were coworkers and according to a criminal complaint, Ramirez allegedly waited for Juan Ceballos outside his home and shot and killed him because his bi. According to Sergio Ceballos, his brother, the oldest of five siblings, was shot a number of times in his car outside their apartment as he brought dinner home to their family.

"He was coming home from work. He had pizza," Sergio Ceballos told KESQ. "He was messaging me. As soon as he parked it happened."

After Juan Ceballos was shot, Sergio Ceballos ran outside to check on him but it was too late.

"He worked hard to pay bills. He went to school. He wanted a future and career," Sergio Ceballos told the news station. His mother, Maria Teresa Mendez, said Juan Ceballos was "a happy person and tried to guide his siblings to do good in life."

Juan Ceballos' family was so distraught over his death they had to move to a new apartment after his funeral.

"I'm the one that's oldest now so I have to step up like he did," Sergio said.

Ramirez is being held without bail and is scheduled to reappear in court on August 11. The district attorney will decide whether to seek the death penalty.

Sergio Ceballos told KMIR News that it was "stupid" if Ramirez killed his brother over sexuality.

"He said that he was he was looking for happiness in a world full of evil, maybe he was right," Sergio Ceballos said. "The world is full of evil, and I just don't know why they ever did this to him... He was our guide, everything that we have now, we owe it to him...I'm going to continue with all this, but I'm going to have to do it without him."

Juan Ceballos' mother told KESQ she "expects justice for the person that did this."