Ohio Cop Says Hate Motive in Transgender Slayings

A Cleveland police official says police believe the recent slayings of two transgender women were motivated by hate.

The Northeast Ohio Media Group (http://bit.ly/1hdUCRu ) reports that deputy chief Ed Tomba spoke at a forum Sunday called by advocates of Cleveland's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. He says federal authorities would have to decide whether to try the cases under hate crime law, but police are calling them "crimes of hate."

Police have no suspects and don't believe the same person is responsible for the two slayings earlier this month.

A disabled, transgender woman was found slain at an assistant living care facility. Another transgender woman was shot in the head in a vehicle.

The activists stressed the need for more education about transgender women and men.