Shepard's friends claimed even before the details of the crime were known that it was a hate-motivated crime. After the crime was discovered Shepard's friends "were calling the County Attorney's office, they were calling the media and indicating Matthew Shepard is gay and we don't want the fact that he is gay to go unnoticed."<ref name="20/20" /> | Shepard's friends claimed even before the details of the crime were known that it was a hate-motivated crime. After the crime was discovered Shepard's friends "were calling the County Attorney's office, they were calling the media and indicating Matthew Shepard is gay and we don't want the fact that he is gay to go unnoticed."<ref name="20/20" /> |